Prevalence of Osteoporosis In Older Men Severely Underestimated

Despite a high prevalence of osteoporosis in elderly Australian men, awareness, diagnosis and treatment of the condition remain low.

Despite a high prevalence of osteoporosis in elderly Australian men, awareness, diagnosis and treatment of the condition remain low, according to a study published in the Medical Journal of Australia.

Ms Kerrin Bleicher, a physiotherapist and PhD Student at the University of Sydney, and coauthors conducted a study to determine the proportion of older Australian men who meet the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) criteria for osteoporosis treatment and are receiving effective treatment.

Osteoporosis-Causes-Symptoms-Diagnosis-Treatment-FAQs
Osteoporosis is a bone disease that leads to an increased risk of fractures. The bone mass is reduced and the bones are porous, thereby resulting in weakness of the skeletal system of the body.

Of the 1705 men aged over 70 years who participated in the study, 25 per cent met one or more of the PBS criteria for osteoporosis treatment. Ninety per cent of the men who met the PBS criteria were unaware they had osteoporosis.

Ms Bleicher said that this lack of awareness may have resulted in substantial underestimation of osteoporosis prevalence in men in a recent report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare that relied on self-report of osteoporosis.

“Identifying men who will benefit from osteoporosis treatment and increasing the proportion of eligible men receiving appropriate treatment is a public health issue,” Ms Bleicher said.

About Lifestyle and Osteoporosis
Encyclopedia section of medindia briefly explains about Lifestyle and Osteoporosis

“Both non-pharmacological treatments and pharmacological treatments need to be implemented to reduce fracture rates.

“Currently it is projected that, because of the ageing population, hip fractures may double by 2026, and increase fourfold by 2051.

Advertisements

Hip Replacement Surgery - Types, Indications, Procedure, Recovery, Complications, Advantages
Hip replacement surgery is usually done on a hip joint damaged due to age from osteo-arthritis. This results in pain and limits daily activities without relief from medications.

“An important step forward is to build public and general medical awareness that osteoporosis is common in older men and that minimal trauma fractures and vertebral deformities are indicators of increased risk of future fractures.

“Obtaining information about previous fractures, identifying vertebral deformities, and testing bone density, where appropriate, can identify men at higher risk of fracture who may benefit from interventions.”