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Osteoporosis is a serious, degenerative bone condition
affecting the health of approximately 23 million American
women. More than 8 million women have the disease; while
over 14 million have osteopenia or “low bone mass” placing
them at increased risk of developing osteoporosis (National
Osteoporosis Foundation, 2001a).
Throughout life, bone is constantly being removed with new
bone in a process called remodeling. However, as the body
ages, too much bone may be removed or not enough new bone
replaced or both. This leads to bone deterioration, low bone
mass, osteoporosis, and an increased risk of bone fracture.
The lack of optimal bone development in childhood is an
important consideration.
Declining hormone levels in women at the time of menopause,
inadequate calcium intake during child- and young adulthood,
and a lack of weight-bearing exercise all affect the bone
remodeling process negatively. The loss of estrogen through
natural menopause or surgical removal of the ovaries
accelerates this process.
Scope of the Problem- Nationally osteoporosis is responsible
for 1.5 million fractures per year or one fracture every 20
seconds (National Osteoporosis Foundation, 2001a).
Prevalence
Eighty percent of people with osteoporosis are women.
Females experience hip fractures at a rate two to three
times higher than males. A woman’s lifetime risk for n
osteoporosis related hip fracture is equal to her risk of
breast, uterine, and ovarian cancer combined (National
Osteoporosis Foundation, 2001a).
The consequences of an osteoporosis-related hip fracture can
be severe. Twenty four percent or one in every five persons,
who sustains an osteoporotic hip fracture dies within the
first year ( National Osteoporosis Foundation 1,999). Fifty
percent will be unable to walk alone, while another 25
percent will require long-term nursing care ( National
Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin
deceases, 2000).
In 1996, the estimated osteoporosis prevalence rate for
Connecticut females age 50 and over was 213 per 1,000
females compared to the U.S. prevalence rate of 209 per
1,000.
For females age 50 and over with osteoporosis and low bone
rate mass, the estimated prevalence rate was 617 per 1,000
females in 1996, compared with the U.S. rate of 611 per
1,000 ( National Osteoporosis Foundation, 1997). By 2015,
the number of Connecticut females with both osteoporosis and
low bone mass is expected to increase by 36 percent, from
316,613 to 429,000 (National Osteoporosis Foundation, 1997).
Risk Factors
Persons of all ages can develop the disease, but females are
at greater risk and the risk grows with age. Women with a
family history of the disease, as well as those who have a
small body frame or experience early menopause are at
greatest risk of developing the disease.
(*) Reference: Written with permission from the State of
Connecticut Department of Public Health.-Nov 2003.
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