Osteoporosis is a long-term condition associated with ageing that causes bones to lose strength, become more fragile and increase the likelihood of a broken bone (i.e., fracture). These fractures can occur even with minimal trauma, such as tripping or a fall from a standing height. Globally, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men older than 50 years of age experience osteoporotic fractures in their lifetime. Osteoporosis is managed in line with clinical judgement and established treatment guidelines by healthcare professionals. Earlier recognition and appropriate management can help reduce the impact of fractures on health, independence, and quality of life. It remains a significant clinical and public health priority as populations age and life expectancy increases.
What happens to bones in osteoporosis?
Bones are made of living tissue. Internally, bones have a structured network which may resemble a honeycomb. To maintain strong bones, a healthy human body breaks down the old bone and replaces it with new bone. Osteoporosis develops when more bone is broken down than replaced. As a result, the bone which forms the ‘walls’ of the internal honeycomb gets smaller, whilst the spaces between the bone grow larger and the outer layer becomes thinner. This reduces overall bone strength and can make fractures more likely.
Bone density naturally decreases with age. For many women, lower oestrogen levels after the menopause can contribute to faster loss of bone density, which increases the risk of osteoporosis over time. Men can also be affected, particularly in later life or when other risk factors are present.
How is osteoporosis diagnosed?
If your doctor thinks you may be affected by osteoporosis, they can refer you for a range of scans and tests to help find out if your bones have lost strength. Fracture risk assessments and bone density scans (also known as DEXA* scans) are most commonly used.
*DEXA: dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry