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Review
. 2017 Mar;4(1):46-56.
doi: 10.5152/eurjrheum.2016.048. Epub 2016 Dec 30.

An overview and management of osteoporosis

Tümay Sözen  1 , Lale Özışık  2 , Nursel Çalık Başaran  2
Affiliations
Review

An overview and management of osteoporosis

Tümay Sözen et al. Eur J Rheumatol. 2017 Mar.

Abstract

Osteoporosis -related to various factors including menopause and aging- is the most common chronic metabolic bone disease, which is characterized by increased bone fragility. Although it is seen in all age groups, gender, and races, it is more common in Caucasians (white race), older people, and women. With an aging population and longer life span, osteoporosis is increasingly becoming a global epidemic. Currently, it has been estimated that more than 200 million people are suffering from osteoporosis. According to recent statistics from the International Osteoporosis Foundation, worldwide, 1 in 3 women over the age of 50 years and 1 in 5 men will experience osteoporotic fractures in their lifetime. Every fracture is a sign of another impending one. Osteoporosis has no clinical manifestations until there is a fracture. Fractures cause important morbidity; in men, in particular, they can cause mortality. Moreover, osteoporosis results in a decreased quality of life, increased disability-adjusted life span, and big financial burden to health insurance systems of countries that are responsible for the care of such patients. With an early diagnosis of this disease before fractures occur and by assessing the bone mineral density and with early treatment, osteoporosis can be prevented. Therefore, increasing awareness among doctors, which, in turn, facilitates increase awareness of the normal populace, will be effective in preventing this epidemic.

Keywords: Osteoporosis; bone mineral density; fracture risk; osteoporosis management.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: No conflict of interest was declared by the authors.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Comparative incidences of osteoporosis-related fractures, new strokes, heart attacks, and invasive breast cancer in women in the United States (6)
Figure 2
Figure 2
Pathogenesis of osteoporosis-related fractures (10, 11)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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