Review article

Epidemiology of Osteoporosis and Osteoporotic Fractures

Velimir Altabas
Jelena Marinković Radošević

Abstract

SUMMARYIn an aging population, with a greater awareness of osteoporosis and its consequences, osteoporosis with incidental fractures is frequently diagnosed, which makes it one of the more common conditions today. It is associated with a significant rate of disability and, in a certain number of cases, death. Today, a whole series of epidemiological data sources related to osteoporosis are available. The quality of data is varying. On the one hand, the total number of patients with osteoporosis is still regularly estimated, but on the other, the number of patients with some major fractures can be more accurately monitored, and in this paper one of the emphases was placed on this problem. According to the estimated number of patients with osteoporosis (48,050 men and 204,248 women) and with a prevalence of 5.6%, Croatia does not significantly differ from other European countries, and the same is true the incidence of all fractures and femoral neck fractures. It is a worrying fact that in the pre-pandemic years, femoral neck fracture appeared on the rank list of 10 leading causes of death in the Croatian population, and in women aged 65 and over, femoral neck fracture ranked 7th among the causes of death. These statistical indicators changed significantly during the pandemic years, when other causes of death became more common. Nevertheless, osteoporosis as a disease has not disappeared, and considering the weaker implementation of preventive and curative activities during the pandemic years, deteriorating epidemiological parameteres related to osteoporosis should be expected.

Keywords

osteoporosis; fractures; epidemiological indicators

Hrčak ID:

291547

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/291547

Publication date:

17.1.2023.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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