Osteoporosis


Updated July 2006

Osteoporosis is a condition in which there is a reduction in bone mass and density leading to increased risk of fracture, back pain, weight loss, and curvature of the spine. In the UK, osteoporosis results in approximately 270,000 fractures each year.[1] Some 50,000 of these are wrist fractures and about 60,000 are hip fractures, and are most likely to affect people over 50.[1] More than one-third of adult women will sustain one or more osteoporotic fractures in their lifetime.[2] The cost to the NHS from osteoporotic fractures has been estimated as £1.8 billion per annum.[1]

Prevention and treatment of osteoporosis includes:
  • increasing the level of physical activity undertaken at all ages. Regular exercise, at least three times a week for 20 minutes, stimulates bones to strengthen. Good bone building exercises are running, aerobics, tennis, or brisk walking
  • stopping smoking, this will be beneficial to bones as well as general health and fitness
  • following a well-balanced diet and increasing dietary calcium intake
  • reducing alcohol consumption
  • avoidance of prolonged use or minimisation of dosage of corticosteroids (e.g. prednisolone)
  • therapies that affect bone metabolism are now the mainstay of treatment and prevention of osteoporosis in the elderly: bisphosphonates and/or calcium+vitamin D
  • other drugs of use include HRT (although its place is being questioned), calcitonin, SERMs (selective oestrogen receptor modulators eg raloxifene) and potentially recombinant parathyroid hormone
References:
[1] Cryer C & Patel S (2001) Falls, fragility and fractures - National service framework for older people: The case for and strategies to implement a joint Health Improvement and Modernisation Plan for falls and osteoporosis. London: Alliance for Better Bone Health.
[2] Royal College of Physicians & Bone and Tooth Society of Great Britain (2001) Osteoporosis - Clinical guidelines for prevention and treatment: Update on pharmacological interventions and an algorithm for management. London: Royal College of Physicians of London.

Further information:

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