The Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis

Abstract

OSTEOPOROSIS is one of the most important disorders associated with aging.^{1 , 2} More than 1.5 million Americans have fractures related to osteoporosis each year, with attendant pain, deformity, and loss of independence. The annual cost to the U.S. health care system is at least $10 billion.^{1 , 2} Because of the aging of the population and increases over time in the incidence of fractures, these already huge costs will more than double over the next 30 years³ unless a comprehensive program of prevention and treatment is initiated soon. The most important preventable cause of fractures is low bone mass. During the course of . . .