Osteoporosis rates increasing in other nations

Sometimes I find articles at the perfect time. Between my blog entry on osteoporosis and now, which was not very long ago, I have fractured two more vertebrae in my neck, making a total of six, none of which are healing. I don’t want this to be about me, but did want to share that. Please take all the necessary precautions to prevent osteoporosis, and reread the blog entry. 

Osteoporosis-related fractures are quite painful and can greatly affect one’s quality of life. Hip fractures are especially common in older women with osteoporosis, which is of heightened importance because they increase the risk of death.

Researchers at the American University of Beirut produced a report on October 22 showing that osteoporsis is becoming more and more of a problem throughout the Middle East and parts of Africa.

‘The Middle East & Africa Regional Audit’ studied the epidemiology, costs, and burden associated with osteoporosis in 17 countries in the Middle East, Africa and Turkey in individual countries and across the whole area.

The results did not bode well for people in these regions.

There is barely any epidemiological research in these areas on osteoporosis and fracture rates, which needs to change, as does the access to DXA technology, care, education and prevention.

Vitamin D deficiency and lack of calcium also come into play. Vitamin D is cheap (certainly much, much cheaper than dealing with the results of osteoporosis) and an important factor in helping prevent fractures.

The Middle East, Africa and Turkey are looking at significant increases in fractures because of the reasons listed above. For example, it is suspected that by 2050, the number of hip fractures in people over 50 in Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria will quadruple.

Without changes and by continuing to put osteoporosis on the backburner to other diseases, these numbers will only increase as time goes on.

randi morse, randi.morse@gmail.com, newton, ma