OR01-3 Lack of Bone Mineral Density Testing in Men with Hypogonadism: A Clinical Conundrum

OBJECTIVE: Hypogonadism is a known risk factor for decreased bone mineral density (BMD) and increased risk of fractures in men. The 2012 Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guidelines recommend that men ≥ 50 years of age with a diagnosis of hypogonadism undergo BMD testing.(1) The objective of this study was to determine the frequency at which men aged ≥ 50 with a diagnosis of hypogonadism underwent BMD testing, and among those that underwent testing, the percentage of men diagnosed with osteopenia or osteoporosis and subsequently treated with an osteoporosis medication. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted using the enterprise-wide electronic health record system at our institution. Inclusion requirements were an ICD-9 or -10 code for hypogonadism at any time between 7/1/2012 and 9/30/2020, and at least two subsequent visits with providers from primary care, endocrinology, or urology. Patients with a diagnosis of osteoporosis or who had undergone treatment with an osteoporosis medication, prior to the diagnosis of hypogonadism, were excluded. Patients were followed until the date of BMD assessment or censoring (9/30/2021). The testing results and documentation of treatment with an osteoporosis medication were recorded. Categorical variables and continuous variables were summarized using N (%) and median (IQR) or mean (SD), respectively. RESULTS: A total of 10,169 men with hypogonadism were identified. General characteristics included mean age of 63.4 years (±9.2), 85.2% white, 52.7% with history of smoking, 68.2% with hypertension, 36.9% with type 2 diabetes, and mean BMI of 31.3 kg/m2 (±6.0). Median follow-up time was 6.6 years (3.8, 8.5). Of 728 (7.2%) patients who underwent BMD testing, 352 (48.4%) had osteopenia and 87 (12.0%) had osteoporosis. A total of 5,633 (55.4%) men underwent treatment with testosterone replacement therapy. Of the 87 patients identified as having osteoporosis, 50 (57.5%) were treated with an osteoporosis medication. CONCLUSION: Despite a recommendation from the 2012 Endocrine Society for men ≥ 50 years of age with hypogonadism to undergo BMD testing, the rate at which this testing is performed in real-world practice is quite low. The high rate (60.3%) at which low BMD was discovered in hypogonadal men who underwent testing, and further observation of a low rate of treatment with osteoporosis medication when indicated, is alarming and necessitates a call to action for more hypogonadal men to undergo testing and receive appropriate treatment. Further studies are needed to determine the reasons why so few men with hypogonadism undergo BMD assessment and what systems can be put in place to overcome this clinical conundrum. REFERENCE: 1. Watts NB, et al. Osteoporosis in Men: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline, The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Volume 97, Issue 6, 1 June 2012, Pages 1802–1822, https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2011-304 Presentation: Saturday, June 11, 2022 12:00 p.m. - 12:15 p.m.