Prevalence and Incidence of Osteoporosis

Prevalance of Osteoporosis:

28 million Americans (10 million with osteoporosis; 18 million with low bone mass); eight million American women and 2 million men (NWHIC)

Prevalance Rate:

approx 1 in 9 or 10.29% or 28 million people in USA [about data]

Incidence of types of Osteoporosis:

For details see incidence of types of Osteoporosis analysis; summary of available incidence by type data:

• Pregnancy-associated osteoporosis: 80 annual cases (NWHIC)

Undiagnosed prevalence of Osteoporosis:

18 million with low bone mass (many are undiagnosed)

Undiagnosed prevalence rate:

approx 1 in 15 or 6.62% or 18 million people in USA [about data]

Prevalance of Osteoporosis:

Osteoporosis is a major health risk for 28 million Americans. In the United States today, 10 million individuals already have osteoporosis and 18 million more have low bone mass, placing them at increased risk for this disease. (Source: excerpt from Osteoporosis Progress and Promise: NIAMS) ... Overall, approximately eight million American women and 2 million men have osteoporosis. (Source: excerpt from Osteoporosis: NWHIC)

Prevalence/Incidence of Osteoporosis: Online Medical Books

16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE! Review the full text of medical books online, free, without registration, for more information about the prevalence and/or incidence of Osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis: Causes and incidence
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

The cause of primary osteoporosis is unknown; however, a mild but prolonged negative calcium balance, resulting from an inadequate dietary intake of calcium, may be an important contributing factor — as may declining gonadal or adrenal function, faulty protein metabolism due to estrogen deficiency, and sedentary lifestyle. Causes of secondary osteoporosis are many: prolonged therapy with steroids or heparin, total immobilization or disuse of a bone (as with hemiplegia, for example), alcoholism, malnutrition, malabsorption, scurvy, lactose intolerance, osteogenesis imperfecta, Sudeck’s atrophy (localized to hands and feet, with recurring attacks), and endocrine disorders (hypopituitarism, acromegaly, thyrotoxicosis, long-standing diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism).

The incidence of osteoporosis is high, with an estimated 10 million U.S. residents suffering from osteoporosis and another 18 million suffering from low bone mass, or osteopenia. Incidence is higher in women than in men, with women older than age 50 accounting for 20% of cases. Another 30% of women have osteopenia, which can deteriorate into osteoporosis.

READ FULL BOOK TEXT ONLINE »

Prevelance statistics for Osteoporosis:

The following statistics relate to the prevalence of Osteoporosis:

• 10 million cases in the USA (National Osteoporosis Foundation, 2004)
• 34 million at risk cases in the USA (National Osteoporosis Foundation, 2004)
• 55% of people over 50 in the USA (National Osteoporosis Foundation, 2004)
• 80% of cases in the USA are women (National Osteoporosis Foundation, 2004)
• 20% of cases in the USA are men (National Osteoporosis Foundation, 2004)
• 50% of women over 50 in the USA will have an osteoporosis related fracture during their lifetime (National Osteoporosis Foundation, 2004)
• 25% of men over 50 in the USA will have an osteoporosis related fracture during their lifetime (National Osteoporosis Foundation, 2004)
• 10 million cases of osteoporosis in the US (Osteoporosis in Postmenopausal Women: Diagnosis and Monitoring)
• 18 million people at risk of developing osteoporosis in the US (Osteoporosis in Postmenopausal Women: Diagnosis and Monitoring)
• 80% of cases of osteoporosis occurs in women in the US (Osteoporosis in Postmenopausal Women: Diagnosis and Monitoring)
• 8 million cases of osteoporosis in women in the US (Osteoporosis in Postmenopausal Women: Diagnosis and Monitoring)
• 2 million cases of osteoporosis in men in the US (Osteoporosis in Postmenopausal Women: Diagnosis and Monitoring)
• 15% of white women over 50 have osteoporosis in the US (Osteoporosis in Postmenopausal Women: Diagnosis and Monitoring)
• Up to 70% of women over 80 years have osteoporosis in the US (WHO)
• 1.6% of population self-reported having osteoporosis in Australia 2001 (ABS 2001 National Health Survey, Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)
• 0.6% of male population self-reported having osteoporosis in Australia 2001 (ABS 2001 National Health Survey, Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)
• 2.5% of female population self-reported having osteoporosis in Australia 2001 (ABS 2001 National Health Survey, Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)
• 300,000 people self-reported having osteoporosis in Australia 2001 (ABS 2001 National Health Survey, Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)
• 248,000 women self-reported having osteoporosis in Australia 2001 (ABS 2001 National Health Survey, Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)
• 52,000 men self-reported having osteoporosis in Australia 2001 (ABS 2001 National Health Survey, Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)

About prevalence and incidence statistics:

The term 'prevalence' of Osteoporosis usually refers to the estimated population of people who are managing Osteoporosis at any given time. The term 'incidence' of Osteoporosis refers to the annual diagnosis rate, or the number of new cases of Osteoporosis diagnosed each year. Hence, these two statistics types can differ: a short-lived disease like flu can have high annual incidence but low prevalence, but a life-long disease like diabetes has a low annual incidence but high prevalence. For more information see about prevalence and incidence statistics.