Osteoporosis

Sara Vela Bernal, Spain

From: Salud (About Health)
PABLO PÉREZ MARTÍNEZ, JOSÉ MANUEL RAMOS RINCÓN, ANA MAESTRE PEIRÓ

Osteoporosis is a disease that affects the bones, making them more fragile, so that they break more easily and are less resistant to blows.

It is estimated that osteoporosis affects 5.6% of the total European population aged over 50 years (22.1% of women and 6.6% of men). The number of new fragility fractures in Europe was estimated at 4.3 million per year.

Osteoporosis does not manifest itself with any symptoms until fractures appear. Most people find out they have osteoporosis after they break a bone. The bones that are most often fractured are the vertebrae, hip, and wrist. Fractures can lead to chronic pain, disability, or even death, occasionally.

Osteoporosis is diagnosed by quantifying bone mineral density that can be measured with densitometry, making it possible to predict the risk of fracture in patients without any broken bones. Established osteoporosis is defined as the presence of one or more fragility fractures (spontaneous, without a previous direct blow).

Some risk factors for osteoporosis are older age, menopause, a family history of hip fracture, or having had a previous fracture from a minor blow, especially after the age of 50.

Osteoporosis is also a side effect of some medications, such as glucocorticoids, heparin, and cancer treatments, that deplete sex hormones. Smoking, alcohol abuse, eating disorders such as anorexia, a sedentary lifestyle, and low levels of vitamin D or calcium are other risk factors.

To keep bones as healthy as possible, we can adopt healthy lifestyle habits, such as avoiding smoking and limiting alcohol consumption, exercising daily, or making sure that our diet contains foods rich in calcium and vitamin D such as milk, yogurt, green leafy vegetables, nuts and fish. The requirements of calcium and vitamin D are not the same for everyone, which is why, in some cases, it is necessary to take supplements prescribed by your doctor.

Comunicar Salud
(Health Communications)

PABLO PÉREZ MARTÍNEZ, JOSÉ MANUEL RAMOS RINCÓN, ANA MAESTRE PEIRÓ

1ª edición: febrero 2023
© Sociedad Española de Medicina Interna
ISBN: 978-84-09-47805-7
eISBN: 978-84-09-48195-8

This is a Spanish book full of short articles on a wide range of diseases and clinical conditions written for lay people and patients by various authors.

The book contains useful information and it has been made available in English to serve European readers by the courtesy of SEMI, the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine, in cooperation with FDIME. We will publish chapters as short reports regularly over the coming months.

We hope you will enjoy reading them.

10 key points

Osteoporotic bones are more porous bones, they have a greater number of larger cavities, so that the bones contain more air and are less resistant.
People with osteoporosis should take steps to prevent falls or slips. Measures may include using a walking support or grab bars in the bathroom, removing rugs, or avoiding tripping objects on the floor, such as wires.
Osteoporosis is a preventable and treatable disease, but the lack of warning signs prior to fracture means that few patients are diagnosed in the early stages.
A vertebral fracture can manifest as back pain, loss of height, or stooped posture.
Hip fracture is a serious injury that usually requires surgical repair. It often occurs with minor trauma, such as a fall at home, in someone with osteoporotic bones.
Women have osteoporosis more frequently because their peak bone mass is usually lower than that of men. In addition, menopause accelerates bone loss.
Calcium and vitamin D are two essential elements in the diet to keep our bones healthy and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
Most people with osteoporosis also need medicine to slow bone loss or prevent fractures. The most commonly used drugs are antiresorptive drugs, such as bisphosphonates.
Other treatments for osteoporosis include denosumab, romosozumab, hormone replacement therapy, selective estrogen receptor modulators, and teriparatide.
Maxillary osteonecrosis and atypical fracture have been associated with long-term use of bisphosphonates or denosumab, although their incidence in patients with osteoporosis is very low. Patients are advised to have adequate oral health and inform their doctor if they are going to have any dental procedures.