Geriatric osteoporosis.

EPIDEMIOLOGY 1,2,3 • 44 million adults in the US have abnormally low bone mass • 40% of all women and 25% of all men will experience a fragility fracture in their lifetime. • osteoporosis accounts for 800,000 vertebral compression fractures, 300,000 hip fractures and 250,000 wrist fractures annually. • The consequences of those fractures are significant: the mortality for hip fracture is 24% in the first 12 months; of those who survive, 50% fail to regain full ambulatory capability vertebral fractures can be asymptomatic but they can also be associated with back pain, reduced activity, and increased mortality. • Under-diagnosis and under-treatment are common