Osteoporosis & Fragility Fractures

Burden of disease

Osteoporosis is a progressive loss of bone mass causing them to become more fragile and break easily, especially bones of the hip, spine and wrist.

Health care and social costs for fractures in bones weakened by osteoporosis is nearly 1.7 billion each year in the UK.

Approximately 3.2 million women over the age of 50 in the United Kingdom suffer from osteoporosis. Many more have low bone mass, leaving them susceptible to osteoporosis.

Women are 4 times more likely to suffer from osteoporosis than men and their rate of fracture is 2 to 3 times that of men, but death rates in men one year after fracture are higher.

At least 80% of hip and spine fractures in those between 65 to 84 years of age are due to osteoporosis.

Hip fractures lead to 70,000 hospital admissions per year. Approximately 10% of hip fracture patients die within the first month following their fracture, initial hospitalisation, and 24% die within a year of injury.

Only 50% of our patients return to living independently in their own home.

Directions for future research

Find what contributes to the best bone mass
Educate people on how to avoid loosing bone mass throughout life and find new medical treatment and physical activity training.

Improve injury prevention programmes for the elderly.

Improve how fractures in weak bone are managed looking at fracture fixation methods and bone strengthening methods.

Determine the genetic factors that affect bone strength.

If you would like to support any one of these areas please  Donate Now!