A Health Threat for every Woman

Osteoporosis is a very common disorder in postmenopausal women: 80 % affected by a spine fracture caused by osteoporosis are women, only 20 % are men1. You are really not alone with this problem:

  • 200 million women worldwide suffer from osteoporosis.2
  • There is a risk of 30 to 50 % that you – or any other woman in Europe - will suffer at least one osteoporotic fracture in her life.3
  • In women over 45 years, osteoporosis accounts for more days spent in hospital than many other diseases, including diabetes, myocardial infarction, and breast cancer4
  • Only 1 of 3 osteoporotic spine fractures is diagnosed.5 ,6

Why do so many spine fractures remain undiagnosed?

Because the first spine fracture may cause only mild to moderate symptoms – and because too many women think that back pain is normal when you become older. However, the first fracture will not be the last, if osteoporosis remains untreated. So pay attention to back pain, and go to your doctor to check your risk for osteoporosis.

References

  1. Eastell R, Boyle IT, Compston J, et al. Management of male osteoporosis: Report of the UK Consensus Group. Qjm 1998; 91:71.
  2. Peters KM (Hrsg). Knochenkrankheiten. Darmstadt: Steinkopff 2002, 45
  3. Randell A, Sambrook PN, et al. Direct clinical welfare costs of osteoporotic fractures in elderly men and women. Osteoporos Int 1995; 5: 427
  4. Kanis JA, Delmas P, Burckhardt P. Guidelines for diagnosis and management of osteoporosis. The European Foundation of Osteoporosis and Bone Disease. Osteoporos. Int 1997; 7: 390
  5. Cooper C, Atkinson EJ, et al. Incidence of clinically diagnosed vertebral fracture: a population-based study in Rochester, Minnesota, 1985-89. J Bone Min Res 1992; 7: 221.
  6. Delmas PD, van de Langerijt L, Watts NE, et al. Underdiagnosis of vertebral fracture is a worldwide problem: the IMPACT study. J Bone Min Res 2005; 20: 557.

Glossary

In the glossary you will find terms that we have provided with some extra-information.

Your language

Choose your language and read more information on osteoporosis and tips for its prevention.

What you can do

Reduce your risk for osteoporosis – with some basic lifestyle changes. You could start with reviewing your diet and eating habits.