research
Biophysical stimuli as potentialtreatment for osteoporosis
- Publication date
- 19 October 2012
- Publisher
- Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by diminished bone mass and deterioration
of the bone microarchitecture leading to a higher susceptibility for fractures.
The best known ‘osteoporotic fractures’ are those of the hip and vertebrae because
these fractures have the most detrimental effects. However, other fragility fractures
of the distal radius, humerus, ankle, pelvis, clavicula, and ribs account for
67% of all osteoporotic fractures and also significantly affect a patient’s wellbeing
and performance, although generally for a shorter period of time.
The incidence of osteoporotic fractures in the Netherlands is comparable to that
in other West-European countries, which is higher than that in the USA for other
(yet undetermined) reasons, that are most likely attributed to lifestyle factors.
The incidence varies widely between sexes, ages, races and the existence of other
risk factors such as glucocorticoid use, low body mass index, smoking, rheumatoid
arthritis and previous fractures. In the Netherlands, two-thirds of the patients
aged 55 years and older with a hip fracture are women. The incidence of a hip
fracture strongly depends on age. In women aged 65-69 years the incidence is 1.6
per 1000, whereas in women aged 75-79 years it is 7.1 per 100010. In contrast to
hip fractures, the incidence of wrist fractures does not rise with age. The incidence
of wrist fractures in women older than 55 years is 6 in 1000, leading to more than
12,000 wrist fractures in women in the Netherlands annually. For vertebral fractures
it is much harder to present incidence data because many vertebral fractures
occur without any trauma, and at the moment of the fracture many patients do not
seek medical help.