Osteoporosis in Women

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-1997

Identifier/URL

41078309 (Pure); 9016728 (PubMed)

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Abstract

Osteoporosis is a substantial cause of morbidity and mortality, particularly for elderly women. It causes much suffering through pain and decreased mobility, which can cause death, such as by increasing the risk of pneumonia and pulmonary embolism. The National Osteoporosis Foundation29 says that 25 million people have osteoporosis and that there are 1.5 million osteoporotic fractures annually (500,000 vertebral, 250,000 hip, and 200,000 distal radial fractures). The Foundation estimates a cost of $18 billion a year in the United States, with $7 billion from hip fracture alone (in 1985 dollars). Estimates are that a white woman aged 50 has a 40% chance of having an osteoporotic fracture during her lifetime.35 The estimated lifetime risk of a hip fracture for a 50-year-old woman is 15.3%,19 12.7% if estrogen is given. The lifetime probability of death caused by hip fracture is 1.5%19; the rate of death once hip fracture has occurred is 5% to 20%.9 Primary osteoporosis generally is classified as type I, postmenopausal, and type II, age-associated. Type I is associated with bone mass loss rates of 3% to 5% a year; type II bone mass loss is about 1% a year.9 Lifetime losses are estimated as 30% to 40% lower than peak bone mass in women and 20% to 35% lower in men.9 Secondary osteoporosis results from identifiable medications or diseases, such as multiple myeloma or Cushing's syndrome. The clinicians’ base of knowledge for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis is expanding at a rapid rate, and many changes are likely to occur in treatment possibilities in the coming few years.

DOI

10.1016/s0095-4543(22)00083-5

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