Epidemiology

The estimated global prevalence of osteoporosis is 19.7%, with significant variation between different countries and regions (reported rates ranged from 4.1% in the Netherlands to 52.0% in Turkey).[5]

Women have an increased risk of osteoporosis, with global estimates of 23.1% in the general population and 35.3% in older women compared with 11.7% and 12.5%, respectively, in men.[6][7]

In the US in 2010, an estimated 10.2 million people aged 50 years and over suffered with osteoporosis, and 43.3 million more people had low bone mass.[8]

Evidence suggests that rates and severity of fracture increase with age. Vertebral (spine) and hip fractures comprise 24% of all fractures in women aged 60-69 years, but account for 67% for women aged 80 years and over with fracture.[9]

Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017-2018 reported the age-adjusted prevalence of osteoporosis at either the femur neck or lumbar spine or both among adults aged 50 years and over was 12.6%.[8]​ Higher rates were seen in women than in men: 19.6% and 4.4%, respectively.[8]​ As a precursor of osteoporosis, low bone mass prevalence was reported at 43.1% for this age group, with an increased rate of 51.5% for women compared with 33.5% in men.[8]​ These data also suggest that the prevalence rate of osteoporosis has increased since the 2007-2008 report, in women but not in men, and that the rate of low bone mass had not changed for either gender. 

One study that assessed the prevalence of osteoporosis in people aged 50 years and over in industrialised countries (US, Canada, five European countries, Australia, and Japan) reported the prevalence of osteoporosis in the spine or hip as: 44% in Japan, 20% in the US, 41% in Germany, 40% in France, 38% in Italy, 34% in the UK, 38% in Spain, 21% in Canada, and 28% in Australia.[10]

The highest rates of prevalence of osteoporosis are found in Africa, with 39.5% of the general population suffering from osteoporosis, and in Asia, with a prevalence rate of 24.3% in older people.[6][7]​ 

A prevalence rate of 24.4% has been reported for countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.[11]

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