Osteoporosis is a systemic bone disease characterized by a decrease in bone mass and destruction of the microstructure of the bone, manifested by an increased brittleness of the bone and thus a much higher risk of fracture, even with minor trauma or in the absence of trauma. Osteoporosis is the seventh most common disease in the world. According to the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), there are 200 million osteoporosis patients worldwide, 80% of whom are postmenopausal women. According to the survey, one third of women and one fifth of men over the age of 50 are at risk of osteoporotic fracture, and one seventh of women over the age of 50 will suffer a spinal fracture. International Osteoporosis Day is celebrated every year on October 20. The consequences of osteoporosis are manifested in the following ways: first, bone pain, which is the most common symptom of osteoporosis and can affect the patient’s daily life; second, fractures
This is the most serious consequence of osteoporosis, and is one of the most important causes of disability and death in the elderly. It can occur during daily indoor activities such as twisting the body, holding objects, opening windows, etc. The fracture reoccurrence rate is high. Third, the quality of life is reduced
The main factors affecting the quality of life are pain, deformity and functional limitation; IV, high mortality rate
After hip fracture in the elderly, 20% will die within a year, and half of those who survive will be disabled after a year due to complications, with high hospitalization and health care costs. Osteoporosis can be diagnosed by taking x-rays of the thoracic and lumbar spine to assist in the diagnosis, and should be taken even in high-risk individuals without spinal symptoms. However, dual-energy x-ray bone densitometry for bone density is the gold standard for the diagnosis of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis can be divided into three main types: The first type is primary osteoporosis, which is a physiological degenerative lesion that inevitably occurs with age. This type is divided into 2 types, type Ι for postmenopausal osteoporosis, mostly seen in women 5 to 10 years after menopause, and type Π for senile osteoporosis, which refers to osteoporosis occurring after the age of 70. The second type is secondary osteoporosis, which is osteoporosis induced by some factors such as other diseases or drugs (e.g. steroids). The third category is idiopathic osteoporosis, which is mostly seen in adolescents. Who is prone to the disease? In general, people who are elderly, postmenopausal women, have low bone density, a history of fractures, a family history of osteoporosis, a history of smoking, a history of alcohol abuse, a history of rheumatoid arthritis, and a history of glucocorticoid therapy are prone to develop primary osteoporosis. While hypogonadism, early menopause
(<45 years), chronic malnutrition or malabsorption, osteogenesis imperfecta, chronic liver disease, type 1 diabetes mellitus, and chronic hyperthyroidism are prone to secondary osteoporosis. The goal of treating osteoporosis is to reduce symptoms such as bone pain, improve quality of life, and reduce the incidence of fractures. The basic measures are lifestyle modifications such as adequate nutrition, moderate exercise, and proper sun exposure. Calcium and vitamin D are essential supplements for bone health, while drugs that inhibit bone resorption and promote bone formation can be used until they regulate bone remodeling.