A REVIEW ARTICLE ON OSTEOPOROSIS

Osteoporosis is defined as low bone mineral density caused by altered bone microstructure ultimately predisposing patient to low impact, fragility fractures. Osteoporotic fractures leads to a significant decrease in quality of life with an increased morbidity, mortality, and disability. Osteoporosis- related fractures can increase pain, disability nursing home placements, total health care costs. Approximately 10 million men and women in the US have osteoporosis. Over 50% postmenopausal Caucasian women will have an osteoporotic related fracture. Only 30% of senior women who have a hip fracture will be able to return to independence. In Caucasian men, the risk of an osteoporotic fracture is 20%. But the one year mortality in men who have a hip fracture is twice that of women. Black males and females have less osteoporosis than their Caucasian counterparts, but those diagnosed with osteoporosis have similar fracture risk. The aging of the American population expected to triple the number of osteoporotic fractures. Osteoporosis-related to various factors including menopause and aging is the most common chronic metabolic bone disease. It is seen in all age groups, genders and races but it is more common in Caucasians [white race], older peoples and women Osteoporosis is increasingly becoming a global epidemic. Currently it has been estimated that more than 200 million peoples are suffering from osteoporosis. According to recent statistics from the international osteoporosis foundation, worldwide 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men will experience osteoporotic fractures in their life time. The diagnosis of osteoporosis is determined by measuring bone mineral density [BMD] using noninvasive dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Osteoporosis medication include bisphosphonates, receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand inhibitor, estrogen agonist /antagonist, parathyroid hormone analogues and calcitonin.

Key words: Bone mineral density fracture risk, Osteoporosis management, menopause, bone density, bone fracture, osteopenia.