Osteoporosis and mortality

Osteoporosis is classified as a public health problem by healthcare authorities because it is associated with an increased risk of potentially serious fractures Osteoporotic fractures are known to generate a heavy burden of morbidity and financial cost [1] However recent data indicate that some osteoporotic fractures are also associated with excess mortality These data have led to public health measures such as the addition by the World Health Organization of fracture prevention to the list of public health priorities [2] and the update on hip fractures issued recently by the statistics department of the French ministry of health (DREES [3]) Hip fractures constitute the most severe complication of osteoporosis because they can Induce permanent physical disability loss of self sufficiency institutionalization and above all an increased risk of death Interestingly two recent publications support the hypothesis that optimal osteoporosis management may affect the risk of death Here we will review the main data linking osteoporotic fractures overall (as opposed to hip fractures only) and mortality (C) 2010 Societe francaise de rhumatologie Published by Elsevier Masson SAS All rights reserved