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About osteoporosis
• Osteoporosis is a condition that causes bones to become thin and
porous, decreasing bone strength and leading to increased risk of breaking a bone.
• The most common sites of
osteoporotic fracture are the wrist, spine and hip.
• No single cause for
osteoporosis has been identified.
• Osteoporosis can strike at
any age.
• Osteoporosis is often
called the 'silent thief' because bone loss occurs without symptoms.
• Osteoporosis can result in
disfigurement, lowered self-esteem, reduction or loss of mobility, and decreased independence.
• Osteoporosis has been
called a paediatric disease with geriatric consequences.
• Building strong bones
during childhood and adolescence can be the best defence against developing osteoporosis later.
• Peak bone mass is achieved
at an early age, age 16 in girls and age 20 in young men.
• Women and men alike begin
to lose bone in their mid-30s; as they approach menopause, women lose bone at a greater rate, from 2-5 per
cent per year.
• Risk factors include age,
vertebral compression fracture, fragility fracture after age 40, family history, >3 months use of
glucocorticoid drugs and medical conditions that inhibit absorption of nutrients.
• Loss of 1 1/2" (4 cm) or
more in height may be an indicator of osteoporosis.
Facts and figures
• Almost 2 million Canadians are
living with osteoporosis.
• 1 in 4 women and at least 1
in 8 men over 50 have osteoporosis.
• The cost to the Canadian
health care system of treating osteoporosis and the fractures it causes is currently estimated to be $1.9
billion annually.
• At least 80% of fractures
in people 60+ are related to osteoporosis.
• Osteoporosis causes 70-90%
of 30,000 hip fractures annually.
• Each hip fracture costs the
system $21,285 in the 1st year after hospitalization, and $44,156 if the patient is institutionalized.
• Hip fractures related to
osteoporosis result in death in up to 30% of cases.
• 23% of patients who
fracture a hip die in less than a year.
• Osteoporotic hip fractures
consume more hospital bed days than stroke, diabetes, or heart attack.
• Less than 38% of fracture
patients in Canada currently undergo diagnosis or adequate treatment for osteoporosis.
• Without BMD testing, 80% of
patients with a history of fractures are not given osteoporosis therapies.
• A study recently reported
that only 44% of people discharged from hospital for a hip fracture return home; of the rest, 10% go to
another hospital, 27% go to rehabilitation care, and 17% go to long-term care facilities.
• A 50-year-old woman has a
40% chance of developing hip, vertebral or wrist fractures during her lifetime. 1
• The lifetime risk of
hip fracture is greater (1 in 6) than the 1 in 9 lifetime risk of developing breast cancer. 2
• Patients are at highest
risk for subsequent fracture in the first few months following a vertebral fracture. 3
• 1 in 4 women who have a new
vertebral fracture will fracture again within one year. 4
• Both vertebral and hip fractures
are associated with an increased risk of death.
Osteoporosis treatment and management
• Adults (19-50 years old) need
1000mg of calcium a day. Over the age of 50, OC recommends an intake of 1500mg.
• Vitamin D is critical in
the risk reduction and treatment of osteoporosis as it helps your body absorb calcium.
• Adults need 400 IUs of
vitamin D per day. Over the age of 50, OC recommends at least 800 IUs. During the winter months, sunlight on
the skin does not produce enough vitamin D; therefore supplementation is recommended.
• A bone mineral density (BMD) test
is the most accurate diagnostic test for osteoporosis.
• Several medications are now
available for the treatment of osteoporosis. Bisphosphonates are the most commonly prescribed.
• Regular physical activity,
in particular weight-bearing exercise, is an important factor in reducing the risk of osteoporosis, reducing
falls and broken bones, and helping people with osteoporosis to remain active.
• Smoking, excess caffeine
and excess alcohol all contribute to bone loss.
• It is never too late to
take steps to reduce further bone loss.
* Most above statistics are from Breaking Barriers, Not Bones – OC’s 2008 Report Card
1 Melton LJ III, Chrischilles EA, Cooper C, Lane AW, Riggs BL. Perspective: how many women have osteoporosis?
J Bone Miner Res 1992;7:1005-10.
2 Cummings SR, Black DM, Rubin SM. Lifetime risks of hip, colles', or vertebral fracture and coronary heart
disease among white postmenopausal women. Arch Intern Med 1989;149:2445-8.
3 Johnell O, Oden A, Caulin F, Kanis JA. Acute and long-term increase in fracture risk after hospitalization
for vertebral fracture. Osteoporos Int. 2001;12(3):207-14.
4 Lindsay R, Burge RT, Strauss DM. One year outcomes and costs following a vertebral fracture. Osteoporosis
Int. 2005; 16:78-85.
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