Osteoporosis FAQs
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
Fractures of the Hip and Spine
Reference:
National Osteoporosis Foundation
Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis
| Osteoporosis | Osteoarthritis | |
| What is affected? | Bones, which become more fragile and more likely to break | Joints, especially weight-bearing joints (knees, feet, hips, and back) |
| Whom does it affect? | 4 of 5 people suffering from osteoporosis are women occurs most commonly after the age of 45 | Men and women equally; usually occurs after age 45 |
| Why does it happen? | Loss of bone mass, related to certain risk factors | Join structure weaken and wear down |
Who is at Risk? Risk Factors for Osteoporosis
- Age
- Gender
- Race
- Bone structure and body weight
- Menopause and menstrual history
- Lifestyle
- Medications and disease
- Family history
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Mon, 05/25/2009 - 18:02 | 