New Research: Men are Twice As Likely to Die From the Effects of Osteoporosis
Once thought to be a disease primarily affecting post-menopausal women, osteoporosis is now a serious concern for men’s health. In a recently released study, (Osteoporosis in men: why change needs to happen) researchers have found that men are twice as likely to die from the effects of osteoporosis than women.
Osteoporosis, derived from a Greek word which means “porous bones,” is a progressive bone disease characterized by a decrease in bone mass and density. This can lead to an increased risk of fracture and this is the cause of many deaths among older women and men.
hip fracture xray
According to BioTE Medical founder Dr. Gary Donovitz: “With osteoporosis, the bone mineral density is reduced, bone micro architecture deteriorates, and the amount and variety of proteins in bone are altered. Hormone replacement therapy can help to alter this deterioration,” he said.
According to WebMD, the form of osteoporosis most common among women after menopause is primary type 1, also called postmenopausal osteoporosis. Primary type 2 osteoporosis, also called senile osteoporosis, occurs after age 75 and is seen in both females and males at a ratio of 2:1. Secondary osteoporosis may arise at any age and affect men and women equally.
Research Shows a Dramatic Mortality Rate Among Men
In an October 2014 article published in the “Economic Times” (United Kingdom), researchers noted that men are not being adequately diagnosed or treated for osteoporosis, with those suffering a hip fracture twice as likely to die compared to women.
“One-third of all hip fractures worldwide occur in men with mortality rates as high as 37 percent in the first year following fracture. This makes men twice as likely as women to die after a hip fracture,” said professor Peter Ebeling, the lead study author and head of the department of medicine at Monash University in Australia.
The report continued, noting in the United States the number of hip fractures among men is expected to increase by 51.8 percent from 2010 to 2030, and in contrast the number among women is expected to decrease 3.5 percent. Osteoporosis experts warn that “…as men often remain undiagnosed and untreated, millions are left vulnerable to early death and disability, irrespective of fracture type. The report highlights that the ability of men to live pain-free lives in the old age is being seriously compromised.”