OSTEOPOROSIS FROM YESTERDAY TO TODAY – A NARRATIVE REVIEW

Authors

  • Elżbieta Tabor Department and Clinic of Internal Diseases, Diabetology and Nephrology, School of Medicine with the Division of Dentistry, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Zabrze, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6958-9050
  • Kamil Tabor Urban Hospital, Chorzów, Poland
  • Wojciech Pluskiewicz Department and Clinic of Internal Diseases, Diabetology and Nephrology, Metabolic Bone Diseases Unit, School of Medicine with the Division of Dentistry, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Zabrze, Poland

Keywords:

osteoporosis, age-related bone loss, senile osteoporosis, history

Abstract

https://doi.org/10.31952/amha.21.1.7

Despite different lifestyles, humankind has suffered from osteoporosis for thousands of years. A literature review concerning the history of osteoporosis in the following databases: Index Medicus, Medline, PubMed, and PMC Citations was done. In the final analysis, 18 review articles and 31 original papers were included. The works were published during the period 1705-2020. Although there is evidence of the existence of osteoporosis for many centuries, it was first described as a disease at the beginning of the 18th century. It was first perceived as an unavoidable course of aging with no possibility to cure. This approach changed only in the 20th century thanks to sudden diagnostic and therapeutic progress. This paper presents the milestones and most important researchers in osteoporosis history. Rapid progress in diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities sheds new light on osteoporosis’ nature. A comprehensive outlook on its history may help find answers for the still unsolved problems of this disease.

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Published

2023-09-07

Issue

Vol. 21 No. 1 (2023): AMHA – Acta medico-historica Adriatica

Section

Review article