New Data Reveal Increasing Burden Of Osteoporosis In Europe

Date: Apr-19-2013Every year 43,000 people die following osteoporotic fractures; reports show that
European healthcare systems are not treating people at risk; burden and costs will rise
dramatically by 2025.

Two landmark multi-stakeholder reports launched this week - Osteoporosis in the European
Union and the Scorecard for Osteoporosis in Europe - describe and compare the
epidemiology, burden, and management of osteoporosis and fractures in all 27 member states
of the European Union (EU).

Twenty-two million women and 5.5 million men in the EU are estimated to have
osteoporosis, resulting in 3.5 million new fractures each year. Fractures, especially of
the hip, can have devastating consequences, including severe pain, disability and even
premature death: in 2010, 43,000 men and women died following osteoporotic fractures.

The direct cost of treating fractures due to osteoporosis in the EU is estimated at
EUR37 billion each year. Large inequalities in osteoporosis care remain across Europe:
services are not aligned or operating efficiently enough to reduce the risk of fractures
due to osteoporosis. Furthermore, there will be a 22% (women) and 17% (men) increase in
the population aged 50 or over by 2025 - forecasting a dramatic increase in the future
number of osteoporotic fractures.

International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) President Professor John Kanis, warned,
"57% of high risk individuals remain undiagnosed and untreated. European healthcare
systems are poorly equipped to deal with the current burden of osteoporosis and the
expected surge in the number of fracture patients in the coming years."

"Implementing effective systems to identify and treat high risk individuals would
ultimately save lives, improve quality of life in the senior population, and save
taxpayers billions of euros in healthcare costs," he said.

Courtesy: Medical News Today Note: Any medical information available in this news section is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional.