Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis, which is a skeletal disorder characterized by compromised bone strength, predisposes an individual to an increased risk for fracture and accounts for almost 2 million fractures occurring annually in the United States at an estimated cost of $57 billion. Osteoporosis is most prevalent in older postmenopausal women, but it also affects men and individuals with risk factors for bone loss. It is identifiable clinically (low trauma fractures) and by testing (dual energy x-ray absorptiometry). Treatment with a number of medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration can significantly reduce the risk for low-trauma fractures.

Duke Scholars

Author Thomas Joseph Weber Medicine, Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Nutrition