Facts on Fractures

By:
iVillage Health & Well-Being Staff Writer

One out of every two women over the age of 50 will experience an osteoporosis-related fracture in her lifetime. Another 20 percent will die each year due to an osteoporosis-related complication, such as hip fracture. Unfortunately, many women do not realize they are at risk for osteoporosis until they suffer a fracture, and most are unaware of the devastating effects of the disease. Following are important facts every woman should know about osteoporotic fractures.

A "Break-Out" of Common Fractures
Osteoporosis causes 1.5 million fractures each year, most often in the hip, spine and wrist; consider the following statistics:

700,000 vertebral fractures

300,000 hip fractures

250,000 wrist fractures

300,000 other bone fractures

When Good Bones Go Bad
When bones become thin and weak due to osteoporosis, everyday activities such as walking - even sneezing - can cause them to fracture. The spine and hips, which directly support the body's weight, are at greatest risk.

Hip Fracture: A Bad Break
The risk of hip fracture for a woman is equivalent to her combined risk of breast, ovarian and uterine cancer

Each year, 65,000 women die due to complications from hip fracture

Half of hip fracture survivors are permanently incapacitated, and up to 40 percent cannot walk unaided in the year following fracture

Twenty percent of women require long-term care following hip fracture

According to one study, 80 percent of women over the age of 75 preferred death to a bad hip fracture resulting in nursing home care

The Long and Short of Vertebral Fractures
Vertebral compression fractures, occurring when the weakened bones of the spine collapse, may be the most visible indicator of osteoporosis

One in three women over the age of 50 will suffer a vertebral fracture that can cause acute or chronic pain, height loss and stooped shoulders commonly referred to as a "dowager's hump"

Vertebral fractures can cause gastrointestinal and respiratory problems, depression and loss of self-esteem

Getting Hip to the Risks for Fracture
According to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), the most significant risk factors for fracture are low Bone Mineral Density (BMD) in patients without fractures and prior fractures from everyday activity. Factors linked to an increased risk for hip fractures include:

Family history of osteoporosis

Older age

Weight loss or low body weight

Cigarette smoking

Increased likelihood of falls

Tallness

An Ounce of Prevention…
In The 2001 AACE Medical Guidelines for Clinical Practice for the Prevention and Management of Postmenopausal Osteoporosis, AACE outlines recommendations for strengthening bones to reduce fracture risk, including:

Healthy diet with adequate calcium

Sufficient vitamin D intake

Regular weight-bearing exercise (such as walking)

Avoidance of tobacco and excessive caffeine

Medication to reduce fracture risk for some patients

Elderly women are advised to take the following additional measures to reduce fracture risk:

Anchor rugs

Remove loose wires

Use non-skid mats

Install handrails in bathrooms, halls and along stairways

Light hallways, stairwells and entrances

Wear sturdy, low-heeled shoes

For more information on osteoporosis and fractures, visit www.aace.com.