Osteoporosis a major threat in women

A new report warns that women may expect to live longer but their quality of life will be seriously jeopardised if action to protect their bone health is not taken.

The report by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) hints that postmenopausal women are the most vulnerable to osteoporosis and fractures.

An estimated 200 million women are affected around the world, and the data from the Middle East shows that the number of hip fractures is projected to quadruple by 2050.

With an increasingly ageing population huge demands will be put on health care systems.

Older people who suffer hip fractures are often faced with long-term disability that results in loss of independence and higher risk of death.

Mortality rates after hip fracture may be 2–2.5 fold higher in certain populations within the Middle East and Africa region when compared to Western populations where rates are between 25–35 per cent.

The report – Bone care for the postmenopausal woman – provides solutions for fracture prevention and management.

Given that women over the age of 50 play a critical role as caregivers and breadwinners within the family and society their bone health is a priority to safeguard future generations.

For example, in the US, 43 per cent of caregivers are women aged 50 or over; in Spain 70 per cent of women aged over 65 care for their grandchildren, many every day. In Lebanon, although labor force participation among the older female population (65 years) is relatively low (2.8%), their principal occupation is nevertheless often that of a caregiver to another family member, older spouses, older parents, or grandchildren.

Around the world it is women over 50 who most often take on the burden of care for elderly parents and disabled or sick family members.

“Although the earlier the prevention begins the better, when a women reaches menopause she must not delay any longer. Menopause is the critical time to take preventive measures against bone loss and muscle weakness that can lead to osteoporosis, falls and fractures,” said report co-author Professor Ghada El-Hajj Fuleihan, Professor of Medicine, Director of the Calcium Metabolism and Osteoporosis Program & Director WHO Collaborating Center for Metabolic Bone Disorders, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.

Fractures can cause a terrible toll on quality of life, and in women over 45 they account for more days spent in hospital than many other diseases, including diabetes, heart attack, and breast cancer.

Secondary fracture prevention is also an important message of the report.

“An individual who has experienced a fracture is at double the risk of suffering a second fracture as compared to a person without fractures. In postmenopausal women, a broken wrist or a spinal fracture is often the harbinger of more fractures to come and should be taken as a warning that testing and preventive treatment is needed,” said Professor Cyrus Cooper, Chair, IOF Committee of Scientific Advisors.

“Given that 20 per cent of those who suffer a hip fracture die within one year, it is not only unacceptable but unjust not to take action to change this.”

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