Management and Prevention of Osteoporosis and Fragility Fractures: Key Practice Points
Osteoporosis is a significant non-communicable disease and the most prevalent bone disorder, affecting one in three women and one in five men over the age of 50 globally. In India, the prevalence of osteoporosis is particularly high, with an overall prevalence of 24.7% among men and women aged 30–90 years, and a higher prevalence among women from low-income groups, where 52% experience osteopenia and 29% suffer from osteoporosis. Osteoporosis affects an estimated 200 million women globally, particularly as they age, and is notably underdiagnosed and undertreated in Asia, especially in rural areas where fractures are often managed conservatively. The aging population is expected to increase the incidence of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women significantly. A systematic review found that postmenopausal women in India are at significant risk of low bone mineral density (BMD), with a 29% prevalence of osteoporosis in the lumbar spine region, 6% in the hip region, and 29% in the femoral neck region. Osteopenia was prevalent in 37% of women in the lumbar spine and femoral neck, and 6% in the hip. Thus, addressing postmenopausal osteoporosis is crucial because women in this stage of life spend approximately one-third of their lives with a reduced bone mass and an elevated risk of fractures. Fractures of the pelvis, vertebrae, and distal radius contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality, with a 20% mortality rate within the first year following a hip fracture.