Osteo May Affect More

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has said osteoporosis prevalence could be higher than reported.

In 2011-12, the estimated prevalence of self-reported diagnosed osteoporosis was 15% of women and 3% of men aged over 50 years, according to the Australian Health Survey, the AIHW report found.

Based on a recent bone density study, the prevalence was estimated to be 23% of women and 6% of men over 50, for both diagnosed and undiagnosed cases, the report found.

Because osteoporosis was a ‘silent’ condition, with no obvious symptoms, it often went undiagnosed until a fracture occurred and so it was difficult to determine the actual number of those affected, spokesperson Louise York said.

Osteoporosis ceo Gail Morgan said pharmacists played an important role as frontline healthcare professionals and could talk to patients in the pharmacy about risk factors, ask patients who had broken bones recently about bone density tests and check with patients over 50, particularly women, if they were getting enough exercise, dairy servings and more.

Government should take note of the cost to healthcare of the condition, she said.

Click here to read the report.

Source: pharamacydaily.com.au, Friday 5 September 2014