Osteoporosis

Abstract

Osteoporosis is an important age-related disease; its largest incidence occurs in postmenopausal women. Social and economical consequences are considerable as it is frequent and leads to fractures, particularly of the hip and vertebrae. In the elderly, and particularly the very elderly, fracture morbidity leads to mortality as they may be complicated by pneumonia or venous thromboembolism due to immobilization. The disease is characterized by a progressive reduction of bone density, which not only includes demineralization but also structural rarification. Typical risk factors apart from female sex are