- The incidence of osteoporosis in the female population is 15% at age 50, 30% at age 70, and 40% at age 80.
- One in three women over 65 fall at least once a year. One in ten falls results in a fracture.
- Overall, about 1 in 2 women will have a fracture after age 65.
- For hip fractures alone, 46 million were spent in Greece. euros in 2002.
- If she suffers a hip fracture, a woman has a 30% chance of dying within the next few weeks (due to immobility and thromboembolism, complications from surgery, and general age-related problems). If he survives, he has a 50% chance of having permanent mobility problems from now on.
- The cumulative risk of a woman dying from osteoporosis is clearly greater than from breast cancer.
- Predisposing factors of increased risk for osteoporosis are: white race, tall and thin woman, early menopause, family history of osteoporosis, hyperthyroidism, smoking, intake of alcohol, caffeine, cortisone, reduced intake of dairy products.
- Prevention by early menopausal bone mass measurement and starting treatment with replacement hormones or other drugs reduces the risk of osteoporosis and fractures by up to 50%.
