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Osteoporosis is a widespread condition, often unrecognised in clinical practice, which may have devastating health consequences through its association with fragility fractures. Osteoporotic fractures represent an enormous public health burden. The total number of fractures, and hence the cost to society, will increase dramatically over the next 50 years as a result of demographic changes in the number of elderly people. This article reviews the latest advances in our knowledge of epidemiologic aspects of osteoporosis, including the epidemiology of fragility fracture, the determinants of fracture risk, and genetic, intrauterine, and environmental risk factors for osteoporosis. Novel relationships between breast cancer and bone mineral density will also be discussed.

Type

Journal article

Journal

Curr opin rheumatol

Publication Date

07/2002

Volume

14

Pages

411 - 415

Keywords

Adult, Bone Density, Breast Neoplasms, Female, Fractures, Spontaneous, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Molecular Epidemiology, Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal, Risk Assessment, Risk Factors, United Kingdom, United States