What is Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a skeletal disease characterized by low bone mass that results in a reduction in the strength of the skeleton.
The Scope of the Problem
- Osteoporosis affects as many as 44 million Americans
- 80% of those affected are women
- One in two women and one in four men over age 50 will have an osteoporosis-related fracture in her/his remaining lifetime
- While osteoporosis is often thought of as an older person's disease, it can strike at any age
Consequences of Osteoporosis
- Increased risk of fracture of the hip, spine, and wrist
- Morbidity and mortality from fracture - Over 300,000 hip fractures/year - A 50-year-old white woman has a 15% lifetime probability of suffering a hip fracture
- Healthcare costs - 2002: $18 billion
Reference:
National Osteoporosis Foundation
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