[Present and future epidemiology of osteoporosis]

Osteoporotic patients are exposed to fractures at all bones sites, mainly the upper extremity of the femur, the vertebral bodies, and the distal forearm. According to an overview of 6 French surveys, it is estimated that there has been, in 1990, 45,000 to 50,000 new fractures of the upper extremity of the femur, in patients aged 20 years and above. Owing population aging, more than 145,000 fractures are expected to occur in 2050. The frequency of osteoporosis, its spontaneous tendency to increasing prevalence, its functional consequences and its cost make it a major public health issue with a requirement for a specific preventive strategy.