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October 20th is World Osteoporosis Day (WOD) – there is a misconception that osteoporosis is a disease only affects older women – older men are equally at risk. Photo: iStock

Osteoporosis and related fractures pose a serious and growing threat to the health and wellbeing of men around the world, according to the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF).

World Osteoporosis Day (WOD) is marked on 20th October each year to raise global awareness of the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease. Osteoporosis is a disease which gradually weakens bones, leading to painful and debilitating fragility fractures (broken bones) with the most common sites for a fracture to occur being the hip, wrist and spine.

AFFECTING WOMEN & MEN

There exists a misconception that osteoporosis is a disease which only affects older women. However, the IOF are highlighting the significance of the disease among men and it may be surprising to learn that one-third of all hip fractures worldwide occur in men.

The IOF reports that approximately one in five men aged 50 years or over will break a bone due to osteoporosis. In the EU, projections suggest that the total number of fractures in men will increase by 34% by 2025, to almost 1.6 million cases per year. The IOF says that a clear sign of osteoporosis in adults is a previous low impact fracture, otherwise known as a ‘fragility fracture’ – yet fewer than 20% of men who have already broken a bone are assessed and treated. The best way to identify men who are at high risk of fracture is to measure their bone mineral density via a quick, painless scan.

LARGELY PREVENTABLE & TREATABLE

Dr Miriam Casey, Consultant Physician at St. James’s Hospital with a special interest in osteoporosis, explains that “Broken bones can have a serious impact on mobility, independence and potentially cause long term pain or disability,” says Dr. Casey. “In the past osteoporosis and fractures were considered to be a consequence of the ageing process, rather than a disease.”

“The good news is there are many steps that can be taken to prevent and diagnosis osteoporosis. It's now a largely treatable condition and, with a combination of lifestyle changes and appropriate medical treatment, many fractures can be avoided” says Dr. Casey.

Dr. Casey urges men give one minute to their bones by taking the free and easy IOF ‘one minute’ online test. “The One-Minute Test provided free online by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) could help you to determine if you are at risk of Osteoporosis and also provides you with a good starting point if you want to have a discussion with your GP about your bone health,” says Dr. Casey.

TAKE THE TEST

Love Your bones, take the test:

http://www.iofbonehealth.org/iof-one-minute-osteoporosis-risk-test

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