Osteoporosis: a review

Osteoporosis, a systemic progressive disease, is responsible for significant morbidity and mortality in aging postmenopausal women. It is an important public health problem because of its significant complications, namely fractures of the proximal femur (hip), vertebrae (spine), distal forearm, proximal humerus, pelvis, and other skeletal sites. Compared with other osteoporotic fractures, hip fractures incur the greatest morbidity and direct medical costs for health services. There are now a variety of treatments available for the management of osteoporosis. Inhibitors of bone resorption, including calcium, vitamin Ds, bisphosphonates, calcitonins and gonadal steroids prevent bone loss or reduce fractures. Prevention of osteoporosis with identification of risk factors, careful examination and a few simple diagnostic tests during teen and early adult years is superior to treatment of older individuals. The purpose of this article is to provide a review of osteoporosis.