QuestionQA
Concept
Chapter
Osteoporosis, otherwise known as thin bones, is a condition associated with high risk of low trauma fractures due to reduced bone mineral density. Osteoclast activity exceeds osteoblast activity, meaning that bone resorption is occurring at a greater rate than bone formation.

**Symptoms and Signs**

- Generally asymptomatic until a fragility fracture occurs
- Back pain
- Kyphosis (stooped posture)
- Fragility fractures

**Risk factors**

- Female sex
- Increasing age
- Smoking
- Corticosteroid use
- Low BMI (< 20-25kg/m<sup>2</sup>)
- Low body weight (<58kg)
- Vitamin D deficiency

**Protective factors**

- Higher BMI
- Exercise - mechanical loading stimulates bone formation

**Diagnosis**
Osteoporosis can be detected on dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan.
A T score of < -2.5 indicates osteoporosis

**Management**

- Fall prevention
- Vitamin D and calcium supplementation
- Hormone replacement therapy (postmenopausal women)
- Oral bisphosphonates
2657
3626
Weight based prescribing
Topic
129
Elderly medicine
To calculate the patients weight: volume required/volume per hour= 1200/25= 48kg

Patients require the replacement of 1mmol/kg of potassium each day.

1x48=48mmol required


10096
QuestionQAAnswer
48
mmol
A 89-year-old patient requires maintenance fluids as she is Nil-by-mouth due to an unsafe swallow. She is prescribed 1200ml of 0.9% sodium chloride every 24 hours - calculated based on requirements of 25ml/kg/day.

How many mmol of potassium should she be given in 24 hours?