12/08/2025
Osteoporosis 1
What is Osteoporosis?
It is a health condition that weakens your bones, making them fragile and more likely to break. It develops slowly over several years and is often only diagnosed when a fall or sudden impact causes a bone to break (fracture).
Currently in the UK 549,000 fractures happen each year, including 105,000 hip, 86,000 vertebrae and 358,000 other fractures (pelvis, ribs, arms, clavicle etc). These cause severe pain, disability and reduction in quality of life.
Fragility fractures are estimated to account for 579,722 DALYs (Disability Adjusted Life Years) lost annually, which is about the same as those lost from dementia. The cost to the NHS exceeds £4.7 billion each year, of which £2.6 billon occurs directly after a fracture and £1.7 billion for institutional care costs.
Hip fracture is the most common cause of emergency anaesthesia and surgery in older people. The mean hospital stay is 20 days accounting for half a million hospital bed days used each year with 3,600 hospital beds occupied at any one time by patients recovering from hip fractures. Loss of independence is common following a hip fracture with only 52% living at home after 120 days and 26% will die within 12 months of their fracture.
Photo by BruceBlaus – Creative Commons License
