ABSTRACT
The number of people affected by osteoporosis has become more significant worldwide over the last decade, and it is now regarded by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the 10 most serious global diseases. The ageing of society will probably present one of the most important changes in society throughout the next decades. In 2050 54% of the population in industrialized nations will be older than 65 years.1,2
The prevalence of osteoporosis, i.e. the number of people suffering from osteoporosis at a given time, will probably rise within the EU from 23.7 million in 2000 to 37.3 million in 2050, which means an increase of 57%.3 Until 2020 men will present the larger fraction of pensioners, but until 2050 the ratio will change in favour of women. Accordingly the proportion of the high-risk population for osteoporosis, i.e. women of a pensionable age, will increase considerably, which explains the above-mentioned prevalence. The analysis of the progression of the prevalence of vertebral fractures within the first 10 years after starting vitamin D and calcium therapy shows a prevalence of 33% after 5 years and 55% after 10 years in women without previous fractures, i.e. half of the women treated without bisphosphonates suffer an osteoporotic fracture within the first
10 years of treatment. Eleven per cent of those women even suffer secondary or further vertebral fractures within the first 5 years and 29% within the first 10 years.4
