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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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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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