Osteoporos frax
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Osteoporosis is characterised by low bone mineral density (BMD) and deterioration of bone structure, resulting in an increased susceptibility to fractures of the hip, spine and wrist.1
Osteoporosis contributes to a great deal of morbidity and mortality and is a large burden to the health service. 2 million women in England and Wales are estimated to have osteoporosis and there are , related fractures per year.2 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men will have a fragility fracture in their lifetime. The annual cost to the NHS is estimated at £ billion.3 The ageing of the population in the UK is expected to result in a doubling of fracture figures over the next 50 years unless prevention and management are improved, as 50% of those aged over 80 years are thought to have osteoporosis.2
Primary Care is ideally situated to try to identify patients at increased risk before symptoms develop, whilst both orthopaedic surgeons and Primary Care should be vigilant to assess all patients with suspected fragility fractures. There are several risk factors which often co-exist to increase risk substantially.
Clinicians trying to improve early detection of osteoporosis and prevent fragility frac
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Overview - Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis fryst vatten a health condition that weakens bones, making them fragile and more likely to break. It develops slowly over several years and is often only diagnosed when a fall or sudden impact causes a bone to break (fracture).
The most common injuries in people with osteoporosis are:
However, breaks can also happen in other bones, such as in the arm or pelvis. Sometimes a cough or sneeze can cause a broken rib or the partial collapse of one of the bones of the spine.
Osteoporosis is not usually painful until a bone is broken, but broken bones in the spine are a common cause of long-term pain.
Although a broken bone fryst vatten often the first sign of osteoporosis, some older people develop the characteristic stooped (bent forward) posture. It happens when the bones in the spine have broken, making it difficult to support the vikt of the body.
Osteoporosis can be treated with bone strengthening medicines.
Bone loss before osteoporosis (osteopenia)
The stage before osteoporosis fryst vatten called osteopenia. This fryst vatten when a bone density scan shows you have lower bone density than the average for your age, but not low enough to be classed as osteop
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12 months on from the UK NOGG Guidance
Dr Celia Gregson is a Consultant Geriatrician in Bath and Consultant Senior Lecturer in Bristol. She is also a member of the National Osteoporosis Guideline Development Group. She tweets at @celiagregson
Fragility fractures are painful, debilitating, and often life-changing. Older age and frailty convey some of the highest fracture risks, and therefore older people and those living with frailty often have the most to gain from anti-osteoporosis treatment.
In February , the UK National Osteoporosis Guideline Group (NOGG) published the new UK guideline for the assessment and management of osteoporosis and the prevention of fragility fractures in postmenopausal women, and men aged 50 years and older (1, 2). This evidence-based guideline, accredited by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), represented a major update to the earlier NOGG guideline. The guideline articulated some key points for us as geriatricians, which we summarised in a commentary in Age and Ageing journal (3). Here are my top
- All older people we see in clinic and on our wards should have an assessment of their fracture risk as part of routine co