oa Professional Nursing Today - Managing osteoporosis : review

Abstract

Osteoporosis is defined as a reduction in bone mass associated with disruption of bone micro-architecture, resulting in increased bone fragility and increased risk of fracture, particularly of the spine, hip, wrist, humerus and pelvis. It has been estimated that fractures caused by osteoporosis affect one in two women and one in five men over the age of 50. The risk of fractures also increases steeply with advancing age.