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Quick Facts

  • Two million Australians currently have osteoporosis
  • The direct cost of osteoporosis to the Australian community is $20 million every day

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Osteoporosis Research
 

Osteoporosis

 
Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a disease characterised by low bone mass and deterioration of bone strength. Fragile bones are more prone to fracture. Common fractures include wrist, arm, leg and ribs, as well as the hips and spine. Osteoporosis is often called 'the silent thief' because bone loss occurs without symptoms.

Individuals may not know they have osteoporosis until their bones are so weak that a strain, bump or fall causes a fracture. In Australia, two in three women, and one in three men over the age of 60 will suffer an osteoporotic fracture in their remaining lifetime. Currently over 2 million Australians are affected by the disease. Osteoporotic problems cost the Australian community an estimated $1 billion per year in direct costs. The total cost, which includes factors such as carers and lost income, is estimated to be $7 billion per year (or $20 million every day). Aside from these financial costs, fractures often affect mobility, lead to loss of confidence and quality of life, and increases the risk of dying prematurely.

 
Although osteoporosis usually occurs in older people, it can be seen in children and young adults
 

News

 

Study shows that prostate cancer increases the risk of bone fracture

MEDIA RELEASE: 14 May 2008
As unlikely as it sounds, scientists at Garvan have shown that there is a link between prostate cancer and a higher risk of bone fracture. Their study suggests that men with prostate cancer face a 50% higher risk of fracture, which increases to nearly 100% if they are receiving androgen deprivation therapy for their prostate cancer.
 
 

Genotyping takes us closer to an osteoporosis fingerprint

MEDIA RELEASE: 30 Apr 2008
Garvan collaborated with the Icelandic genetics company, deCode, in an extensive multi-nation genome-wide search to find the genes linked to osteoporosis and fracture. Five regions of interest have been identified that appear to warrant further scientific investigation.
 
 

Web-based tool to predict risk of bone fracture

MEDIA RELEASE: 06 Mar 2008
Scientists from Garvan have developed a fracture risk calculator using data, accumulated over 17 years, from the internationally recognised Dubbo Osteoporosis Epidemiology Study. A paper describing the tool and its methodology was published today in the prestigious international journal, Osteoporosis International.
 
 

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