OSTEOPOROSIS - RESOURCE CENTRE

"Although 80% of osteoporosis sufferers are women, as the longevity of the male population increases, the disease will assume increasing importance in men."

Gro Harlem Brundtland

OSTEOPOROSIS - OVERVIEW

Osteoporosis, according to the WHO definition, is the “progressive systemic skeletal disease characterised by low bone mass and micro-architectural deterioration of bone tissue, with a consequent increase in bone fragility and susceptibility to fracture”.

There are 2 components to osteoporosis (1) weak bones, resulting in (2) increased suseptibility to fractures.

Bone strength is dependent on 2 factors: (1) bone density and (2) bone quality. As there are currently no reliable methods of measuring bone quality, the diagnosis of osteoporosis tends to be made based on bone mineral density (BMD).

NATURAL HISTORY OF BONE LOSS

Bone density increases from birth through adolescence, reaching a peak in the twenties. Genetic, environmental and nutritional factors all play a role in contributing to the peak bone density achieved.

There is then slow, minimal decline in bone density from about 30 to 50 years. In men above 50 years, bone density declines at a rate of about 0.2 – 0.5% per year. In post-menopausal women, the rate of decline is significantly higher, at about 3-5% per year for about 5 – 8 years, then slows to about 1-2% per year thereafter.

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