Osteoporosis is a chronic condition of multifactorial etiology involving systemic skeleton characterized by decreased bone mass and deterioration of bony microarchitecture. The result is fragile bones and an increased risk of fractures, even after subtle trauma. Osteoporosis is a significant health problem and approximately 10 million people in the United States have osteoporosis. An additional 33.6 million people have low bone density of the hip and are at risk for osteoporosis[i]. Each year in the UK an estimated 260 000 osteoporotic fractures occur among women aged 50 years and over, including over 70 000 cases of hip fracture[ii]. Hip and vertebral fractures are associated with significant morbidity and an increased risk of death[iii]. By the year 2020 it is projected that the UK population aged over 85 years will double from 1.2 million to 2.1 million, so the prevention of fragility fractures will assume increasing importance[iv]. Ability for early detection of osteoporosis before fractures occur and use of effective therapy are the recent advancements. Estimation of bone mineral density (BMD) plays a pivotal role in this regard.

[i] National Osteoporosis Foundation. Clinician's Guide to Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis. Available at http://www.nof.org/professionals/Clinicians_Guide.htm. 

[ii] Johansen A , Evans R J, Stone M D.  Fracture incidence in England and Wales: a study based on the population of Cardiff. Injury1997; 28:655–60.

[iii] Centre J R, Nguyen T V, Schneider D.  Mortality after all major types of osteoporotic fractures in men and women: an observational study. Lancet1999; 353:878–82.

[iv] Clark S. Osteoporosis – the disease of the 21st century? Lancet 2002; 359:1714.