The “Silent Killer” Osteoporosis. How to Prevent It and How to Limit Its Complications?

Abstract

Osteoporosis is a disease affecting millions of people all over the world which had been defined as a “disease characterised by low bone mass and microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue, leading to enhanced bone fragility and a consequent increase in fracture risk”. This definition has been modified. Now it is defined as a skeletal disorder characterized by compromised bone strength which predisposes a person to an increased risk of fracture, where clinical bone strength is estimated by an assessment of bone mineral density /BMD/. The prevalence of osteoporosis is very high and varies by different regions. According to reliable sources osteoporosis causes more than 9 million fractures annually worldwide where most occur in the Americas and Europe. There are a lot of well-recognized osteoporosis causes and risk factors. This knowledge will aid in developing an effective prevention strategy. In this review the current data about silent killer are discussed.