General Overview about Osteoporosis and its effects on Health

Abstract

Background: Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disease characterized by low bone mass and microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue, with a consequent increase in bone fragility and susceptibility to fracture. This well-established definition, developed by international consensus, comprises both adverse effects of osteoporosis on bone mass and microstructure, and the clinical outcome of fracture. The prevalence of osteoporosis in Egypt was 28.4% in women and 21.9% in men. Furthermore, 53.9% women and 26% men had osteopenia. Hip and vertebral fractures are strongly associated with reductions in hip BMD and spine BMD, respectively, and have historically been considered the prototypical osteoporotic fractures. However, the incidence of all other fractures (non-hip, non-vertebral) is numerically much greater and collectively these fractures result in much larger economic costs for the population. The lifetime risk of any osteoporotic fracture is 40% to 50% for women and 13% to 22% for men, a markedly higher risk when compared with other major diseases.