Osteoporosis prevalance in older Australian men severely underestimated
Despite a high prevalence of osteoporosis in elderly Australian men, awareness, diagnosis and treatment of the condition remain low, according to a study published in the Medical Journal of Australia.
Ms Kerrin Bleicher, a physiotherapist and PhD Student at the University of Sydney, and co-authors conducted a study to determine the proportion of older Australian men who meet the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) criteria for osteoporosis treatment and are receiving effective treatment.
Of the 1705 men aged over 70 years who participated in the study, 25 per cent met one or more of the PBS criteria for osteoporosis treatment. Ninety per cent of the men who met the PBS criteria were unaware they had osteoporosis.
Ms Bleicher said that this lack of awareness may have resulted in substantial underestimation of osteoporosis prevalence in men in a recent report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare that relied on self-report of osteoporosis.
“Identifying men who will benefit from osteoporosis treatment and increasing the proportion of eligible men receiving appropriate treatment is a public health issue,” Ms Bleicher said.
“Both non-pharmacological treatments and pharmacological treatments need to be implemented to reduce fracture rates.
“Currently it is projected that, because of the ageing population, hip fractures may double by 2026, and increase fourfold by 2051.
“An important step forward is to build public and general medical awareness that osteoporosis is common in older men and that minimal trauma fractures and vertebral deformities are indicators of increased risk of future fractures.
“Obtaining information about previous fractures, identifying vertebral deformities, and testing bone density, where appropriate, can identify men at higher risk of fracture who may benefit from interventions.”
The Medical Journal of Australia is a publication of the Australian Medical Association.
The statements or opinions that are expressed in the MJA reflect the views of the authors and do not represent the official policy of the AMA unless that is so stated.
CONTACT: Ms Kerrin Bleicher 0418 226 059
Rachel Gleeson 0403 067 342 / 0 2 9351 4312
Media Adviser, University of Sydney
