[Osteoporosis]

Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disease characterized by low bone density and microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue, leading to enhanced bone fracture risk. Due to its increasing prevalence (affects more than 10 percent of population) and consequences (bone fractures), osteoporosis is a growing medical, social and economic problem.

Of particular importance is hip fracture, with increasing incidence and lethal outcome in 20 percent, and less than 33 percent of patients with complete recovery. For better prevention of such undesired consequences, accurate diagnosis in the early phase of bone loss is necessary. Bone loss is a silent process, without signs and symptoms of the disease, and so active screening of persons at risk is needed, particulary among the postmenopausal women with some of the recognized risk factors for the development of osteoporotic bone fracture. In such persons, for early detection of bone mass loss, diagnostic measurement of bone density should be done, preferably dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Prevention of osteoporosis is the best approach to the problem, and it should be started in early childhood with general measures (diet with sufficient calcium intake, life style with physical exercise) in a involved national program.

Treatment of osteoporosis lasts for many years and includes general measures and medication with osteodensitometric assessment over a two-year period.