[The optimal therapeutic intervention for osteoporosis from the socioeconomic perspectives]

Osteoporosis is too often underestimated regarding its true burden to the society. Hip fracture is associated with high mortality and morbidity. It both increases the medical expenditure and additional cost associated with long-term care. Although its significance is not widely recognized, vertebral fracture increases further fracture risk, and is also associated with compromised QOL. In order to establish a therapeutic guideline based on socioeconomic perspectives, analyses are mandatory based on simulation models such as Markov model. To determine the optimal therapeutic intervention for osteoporosis from the socioeconomic perspectives, studies on collecting such data as the epidemiology of fracture and the fracture prevention efficacy of each drug are required.