Osteoporosis is classified as either primary or secondary.
Primary Type II osteoporosis affects nearly half of all people over the age of 75, and it affects women only slightly more than men. Secondary osteoporosis can occur as a side effect from the use of certain drugs, such as corticosteroids and heparin. Some diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, kidney disease, and some forms of cancer, can also lead to secondary osteoporosis. Most risk factors are attributed to genetics. Women are affected more than men, especially Caucasian and Asian women who are thin and who have a family history of osteoporosis.