Objective To evaluate the diagnostic values of osteoporosis self-assessment tool for Asians (OSTA) in aged men.Methods Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in 382 male outpatients. Their data were collected. After excluding such influencing factors of BMD as diseases or drugs, they were divided into 3 groups according to the WHO osteoporosis diagnosis value or age. The correlation between OSTA index and BMD was analyzed by Spearman correlation. The concordance of OSTA and BMD were calculated and analyzed by a four-fold table.ResultsThe prevalence of osteoporosis was 9.42% and osteopenia 42.67%. Age increased gradually in the osteoporosis, osteopenia and normal bone mass groups. But OSTA index, BMD (including lumbar vertebrae L1-4, femoral neck, trochanter and hip) and weight decreased gradually in those groups. The percent of normal bone mass decreased with advancing age. And the percentages were 60.68%, 51.97% and 33.33% respectively. Osteoporosis increased in the older group (>80 years old) and the percentage was 24.64% accounting for 94.44% of all osteoporotic subjects. Judging by the OSTA index, the rate of low osteoporotic risk decreased with advancing age. But the rates of mid-risk and high-risk increased. The correlation coefficients of OSTA index and BMD in femoral neck, trochanter, hip and L1-4 was 0.33, 0.28, 0.29 and 0.06 respectively. And the correlation between OSTA index and BMD had statistical significance except for L1-4. The sensitivity, specificity, coincidence and Youden index of OSTA index with a T score cutoff of -1 of BMD were 56.28%, 64.48%, 60.21% and 0.21 respectively versus 86.11%, 57.80%, 60.47% and 0.44 with a T score cutoff of -2.5.Conclusion Correlation exists between OSTA index and BMD. The sensitivity, specificity and coincidence of OSTA index are excellent based upon the standard of BMD by DXA. It is a useful and simple diagnostic tool of osteoporosis.