Part 1: Understanding Osteoporosis

Yes, that is correct. The statement is TRUE. The most serious outcome of osteoporosis is hip fracture.

According to Howard Slavkin, DDS, the director of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, women have 2 - 3 times as many hip fractures as men, however men have twice the mortality rate than women do in the year after a hip fracture. About 50% of the people with hip fractures end up in nursing homes. In the year following the fracture, 20% of them die. Another 25% of them may require long-term nursing home care, and only 33% fully regain a pre-fracture level of independence.

There are also other problems associated with this type of fracture - the psychological ones. The pain, physical limitations, lifestyle changes and loss of independence that occur as a result of a hip fracture can lead to serious depression.

Vertebral fractures also cause significant complications including back pain, height loss and hyphosis (severely stooped posture). These postural and height changes can limit activity, including bending and reaching, and the cosmetic effects can erode self-esteem. Multiple thoracic fractures may result in restrictive lung disease, and lumbar fractures can alter the abdominal anatomy which can lead to constipation, abdominal pain, distention, reduced appetite and premature satiety. Also keep in mind that osteoporosis can affect the entire skeleton - including the bones of the cranium, zygomatic process, maxilla and mandible.