What it is
A T-score compares a person's BMD with a young-adult reference. It is commonly used for postmenopausal women and men age 50 or older.[1,2]
Why it matters
It turns BMD into a standardized adult classification signal, but it does not replace fracture history or clinical assessment.[2]
What it affects
- NIAMS describes T-score -1 or higher as healthy bone, between -1 and -2.5 as osteopenia / low bone density, and -2.5 or lower as a possible osteoporosis category.[1]
- ISCD states osteoporosis may be diagnosed in postmenopausal women and men age 50 or older when central DXA T-score is -2.5 or lower at accepted skeletal sites.[2]
Interpretation traps
- The same number means less when the person is younger, premenopausal, pediatric, has unusual skeletal disease, or has technical artifacts.[2]