Make yourfirst breakyour last
www.iofbonehealth.org

WHAT IS OSTEOPOROSIS?
Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become morefragile and weak, leading to an increased risk of fractures(broken bones). People with osteoporosis can experiencea fracture even after a slight bump, or a fall from standingheight, in the course of daily activities.
Osteoporosis has no signs or symptoms until a fracture
occurs – this is why it is often called a ‘silent disease’.
Fractures due to osteoporosis occur most commonly atsites such as the wrist, upper arm, pelvis, hip and spine,and can result in severe pain, significant disability andeven death.

normal boneosteoporotic bone

A COMMON DISEASE
It is estimated that worldwide, anosteoporotic fracture occurs every
three seconds.
Up to one in two women and one infive men at the age of 50 will suffer afracture in their remaining lifetimes.
In women over 45 years of age,fractures due to osteoporosis result in
more days spent in hospital than manyother diseases, including diabetes,
heart attack and breast cancer.

FRAGILITY FRACTURES
are no accident!
Each year millions of mostly older adults will suffer adevastating hip fracture caused by a simple fall. Millions
more will suffer fractures of the wrist, shoulder, pelvis orspine. These fractures are no accident! It is likely that theunderlying cause is osteoporosis.

IMAGE
COURTESY OF
THE NBHA (USA)
2MILLION2MANY
CAMPAIGN

ONE FRACTURE
LEADS TO ANOTHER• An individual who has suffered anosteoporotic fracture is twice as likely
to suffer a fracture in the future if nodiagnosis of osteoporosis has been madeand appropriate treatment provided.
• Approximately half of all people whohave had one osteoporotic fracture will
have another, with the risk of additional
fractures increasing with each new
broken bone.
• One in four women who have a newspine fracture will fracture again within
one year.

Why should you
BE CONCERNED?
The consequences of a fracture due to osteoporosis canbe extremely serious:
Chronic pain, immobility,
and long-term disability– often leading to loss ofqualityof lifeindependence and reduced
quality of life.

Twenty to twenty-four per centof people who have had a hip
fracture will die in the first year
following the fracture, and manyother fracture types are also
associated with an increased riskof death.

20-24

DIE%

Hip fracture survivors often experience loss offunction and independence, with 40% unable
to walk independently and 60% requiring
assistance a year later. In the year following
a hip fracture, 33% are in a nursing home or
totally dependent, placing a significant burden
on family members who may have to become
caregivers for their loved ones.

Fractures are a huge burden on
the healthcare system and to tax
payers, resulting in the need forlong-term nursing home carefor many and causing millions ofdollars of direct expenditure.

$$$$$
$$$$$
$

THIS ISGEORGETTE’S FIRSTBREAK. LUCKILY, SHE
HAS BEEN TESTED FOR
OSTEOPOROSIS AND WILLRECEIVE APPROPRIATECARE TO REDUCE THE
RISK OF FUTURE
FRACTURES.

Gilberto D Lontro IOF

Fractures areWARNING SIGNS
Almost half of the patients who are treatedin hospital for a hip fracture have had aprevious fracture of some kind.
That first fracture was a warning sign!
It should have resulted in immediate
screening and, if indicated, management
and treatment for osteoporosis.
Sadly, the reality is that most hospitals
and clinics fail to ‘capture’ that first
fracture – leaving patients open to afuture of suffering and debility. Over
80% of fracture patients are neveroffered screening and/or treatment forosteoporosis, despite the fact that there
are effective medications that can reduce
fracture risk by as much as 30–70 %.

HAD A FRACTURE?
GET TESTED!
If you are 50 years or older and have had
a fracture you should ask your doctor fora clinical assessment that will include abone mineral density test and, if available
for your country, a fracture risk assessmentwith the online FRAX calculator (WHOFracture Risk Assessment Tool).
Based on the results,
your doctor will
be able to makeTake therecommendations

IOF ONE-MINUTEOSTEOPOROSIS RISK TEST

about what you canat www.iofbonehealth.org to

do to reduce yoursee whether you’re potentially at

likelihood of having

risk and be sure to discuss yourfuture fractures.

bone health withyour doctor.

PREVENT THE FIRSTFRACTURE BE AWARE OF
YOUR RISK FACTORS
Even if you haven’t had a fracture, you should be awareof any other factors that place you at higher risk ofosteoporosis and fragility fractures. These include:• loss of 3 cm in height (JUST OVER 1 INCH)• early menopause (BEFORE THE AGE OF 45)• long-term glucocorticoid therapy (PREDNISONE OR
PREDNISOLONE) of 3 months or more• digestive diseases such as Crohn’s or celiac disease• family history of osteoporosis• rheumatoid arthritis• primary/secondary hypogonadism in men• being underweight (BODY MASS INDEX LESS THAN 19 KG/M2)• lifestyle factors such as smoking, excessive
alcohol intake, little physical activity and low
levels of calcium and vitamin D

WorldOsteoporosisDay
October20

LOVE YOURBONES

For further information about osteoporosis, consult your local
osteoporosis patient or medical organization. You can find a list on
www.iofbonehealth.org.
Information is also available on the World Osteoporosis Day website
www.worldosteoporosisday.org.
International Osteoporosis Foundation rue Juste-Olivier, 9 • CH-1260 Nyon • Switzerland
T +41 22 994 01 00 F +41 22 994 01 01 • info@iofbonehealth.org • www.iofbonehealth.org©2012 International Osteoporosis Foundation • DESIGN Gilberto D Lontro IOF

120815 1000