Osteoporosis is a disease in which the quantity of bone is reduced and the quality of bone is impaired. As a result, the bones become weaker and more likely to fracture.

Osteoporosis is common:

• In women over the age of 50, there are more osteoporotic fractures than heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and cervical cancer combined.
• 1:2 women over 50 are expected to break a bone because of osteoporosis.
• 1:4 men over 50 are expected to break a bone because of osteoporosis.

After an osteoporotic hip fracture:

• 20% die within one year
• 40% are unable to resume their daily activities

Available therapies can reduce the fracture risk by:

• Hip fractures – 51%
• Single vertebra – 47%
• Multiple vertebrae – 90%
• All non-vertebral fractures – 47%