“A woman’s risk of breaking a hip due to osteoporosis is equal to her risk of breast, ovarian and uterine cancer combined”.1

Umbrella
What may the Osteoporosis and Fractures Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Breaking A Hip
  • Osteoporotic Fractures

Osteoporosis

Is there an association between osteoporosis and fractures?

Yes. The International Menopause Society note:

“Osteoporosis is a common disease which increases with age and leads to an increased risk of fractures. Approximately 70% of women have osteoporosis of the hip, lumbar spine or wrist by the age of 80. Other factors, such as low body mass index (BMI), smoking, and alcohol, among others, may reduce bone density and strength and increase the risk of fracture”.2

Fractures

What is the association between osteoporosis and fractures?

The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) explain:

Osteoporosis and Fractures
“Around the world, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men are at risk of an osteoporotic fracture. In fact, an osteoporotic fracture is estimated to occur every 3 seconds. The most common fractures associated with osteoporosis occur at the hip, spine and wrist. The likelihood of these fractures occurring, particularly at the hip and spine, increases with age in both women and men”.3

Falls

How common are falls?

In Fractures/Fall Prevention the (United States) National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) note:

“Each year about one-third of all people over age 65 will fall. Many of these falls result in broken bones”.4

Falls and Fractures

What is the association between falls and fractures?

The IOF quote the Source dated 2003 and 1991:

  • “Falls contribute to fractures – 90% of hip fractures result from falls. A third of people over age 65 fall annually, with approximately 10-15% of falls in the elderly resulting in fracture, and almost 60% of those who fell the previous year will fall again”.5

Risk of Falling

What increases the risk of falling?

In Avoiding Falls: Know Your Risk Factors the IOF identify:

  • “Visual impairment
  • Blackouts and impaired cognition
  • Impaired balance and muscle weakness
  • Kyphosis (also known Dowager’s Hump)
  • Slow walking speed
  • Use of medications that can cause dizziness and drowsiness
  • Multiple drug therapies”.6

Risk Comparison

What is the risk of breaking a hip due to osteoporosis, compared to the risk of breast or prostate cancer?

In Are You At Risk? [+ Risk Factors Video] the NOF also note:

“A woman’s risk of breaking a hip due to osteoporosis is equal to her risk of breast, ovarian and uterine cancer combined. And a man age 50 or older is more likely to break a bone due to osteoporosis than he is to get prostate cancer”.7

Prevention of FallsOsteoporosis and Fractures

What are some steps to prevent falls?

In Avoiding Falls the IOF explain:

“Six Steps To Prevent Falls:

  1. “Fall-proof your home by removing hazards, installing grab bars and using extra lighting
  2. Do regular, suitable weight-bearing and muscle strengthening exercises, alongside exercises to improve balance
  3. Keep your glasses clean and in good repair, be careful on stairs if wearing bi-focals, and wear sunglasses on bright days to reduce glare
  4. Wear comfortable shoes with good support, a broad heel and non-slip soles
  5. Maintain a healthy diet that includes fresh fruit, vegetables and calcium-rich foods
  6. Talk to your doctor if you feel dizzy, and ask about your medications. Prescription medications can contribute to falling, particularly if you take three or more”.8

Hormone Therapy

Can menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) lower the risk of fractures?

One of the points of consensus in the Revised Global Consensus Statement on Menopausal Hormone Therapy – endorsed by seven menopause-related organizations – published online 20 June 2016 is:

  • “MHT has been shown to significantly lower the risk of hip, vertebral and other osteoporosis-related fractures in postmenopausal women”.9

Health Care Provider

What if I think I am at risk for fractures?

If you think you are at risk for fractures, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this.

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics related to Osteoporosis and Fractures?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Osteoporosis and Fractures?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.
  1. 25 Ways To Prevent Falls
  2. 35 Ways To Stay Bone Strong
  3. About Osteoporosis
  4. Are You At Risk?
  5. Are You At Risk? [+ Risk Factors Video]
  6. Avoiding Falls
  7. Bone Health
  8. Communication With Your Doctor and Healthcare Team
  9. DEXA (DXA) Scan
  10. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
  11. Does Osteoporosis Run In Your Family?
  12. Evidence-Based Falls Prevention Programs
  13. Exercise
  14. Exercise To Stay Healthy
  15. FRAX Fracture Risk Assessment Tool: Calculation Tool
  16. FRAX: A Tool for Estimating Your Fracture Risk
  17. Fall Prevention: Simple Tips To Prevent Falls
  18. Fall Prevention Awareness Week, 23 – 29 September 2019
  19. Falls
  20. Falls
  21. Falls – Multiply Languages
  22. Fractures/Fall Prevention
  23. Hip Fractures Among Older Adults
  24. Home and Recreational Safety: Important Facts About Falls
  25. Important Facts About Falls
  26. Keep on Your Feet—Preventing Older Adult Falls
  27. Looking After Your Bones
  28. Lower Your Risk of Falling
  29. Managing the Risk of Falls
  30. Menopause FAQs: Your Health After Menopause – Q. What can I do to prevent osteoporosis?
  31. My Medication Record
  32. NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center [National Institutes of Health, United States]
  33. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Bone Health Information
  34. National Falls Prevention Resource Center
  35. National Falls Prevention Resource Center: Resources for Older Adults and Caregivers
  36. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases [United States]: Understanding Bone Health
  37. National Osteoporosis Month: Learn About the Risk of Fracture Versus the Risk of Rare Side Effects from Treatment
  38. Older Adults Falls
  39. Osteoporosis To Prevent Fractures: Screening [Preventative Services Task Force, United States]
  40. Possible Fracture Risk With Osteoporosis Drugs
  41. Prevent Falls and Fractures
  42. Preventing Falls and Related Fractures
  43. Preventing Falls: Conversation Starters
  44. Preventing Fractures
  45. Prevention
  46. Prevention Fractures: Protecting Yourself From Fractures [Video]
  47. Prevention of Falls and Fractures
  48. Revised Global Consensus Statement on Menopausal Hormone Therapy
  49. Risk Assessment (FRAX)
  50. Stopfalls.org [Fall Prevention Center of Excellence, United States]
  51. Ten Ways To Boost Your Bone Health At the Kitchen Table
  52. The Surgeon General’s Report on Bone Health and Osteoporosis: What It Means To You
  53. Video Series-2017 – Bone Drug Holidays
  54. Video Series-2017 – Bone Mineral Density Testing
  55. Video Series-2018 – Bone Health
  56. Video Series-2019 – Bone Density Facts
  57. Vision Impairment and Older Adult Falls
  58. What Is Osteoporosis? Osteoporotic Fractures
  59. What Women Need To Know
  60. Worldosteoporosisday.org: World Osteoporosis Day October 20
  61. Worldosteoporosisday.org: World Osteoporosis Day October 20 – Resources Osteoporosis and Fractures

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted above?

You may find the Sources at:

Sources

  1. Are You At Risk? National Osteoporosis Foundation https://www.nof.org/prevention/general-facts/bone-basics/are-you-at-risk/ Accessed: 17 January 2020
  2. Maintaining Health and Preventing Disease After the Menopause: Reducing the Risks of Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis Post Menopause. 2014:3. International Menopause Society https//www.imsociety.org/downloads/world_menopause_day_2014/booklets/ims_wmd_booklet_2014_english.pdf Accessed: 17 January 2020
  3. What Is Osteoporosis? Osteoporotic Fractures. International Osteoporosis Foundation https://www.iofbonehealth.org/what-osteoporosis-0 Accessed: 17 January 2020
  4. Fractures/Fall Prevention. National Osteoporosis Foundation https://www.nof.org/patients/fracturesfall-prevention/ Accessed: 17 January 2020
  5. Facts and Statistics: Osteoporosis – Risk Factors. International Osteoporosis Foundation https://www.iofbonehealth.org/facts-statistics#category-18 Accessed: 17 January 2020
  6. Are You At Risk? National Osteoporosis Foundation https://www.nof.org/prevention/general-facts/bone-basics/are-you-at-risk/ Accessed: 17 January 2020
  7. Avoiding Falls: Know Your Risk Factors. International Osteoporosis Foundation https://www.iofbonehealth.org/avoiding-falls Accessed: 17 January 2020
  8. Avoiding Falls International Osteoporosis Foundation https://www.iofbonehealth.org/avoiding-falls Accessed: 17 January 2020
  9. De Villiers, T. J., Hall, J. E., Pinkerton, J. V., Pérez, S. C., Rees, M., Yang, C. and Pierroz, D. D. Revised Global Consensus Statement on Menopausal Hormone Therapy: Section A: Benefit/Risk Profile of MHT. Climacteric, 2016;19:4:313 https://www.imsociety.org/manage/images/pdf/ba6379e868044bec13015ac2b84f2753.pdf Accessed: 17 January 2020
Topic Last Updated: 17 January 2020 – Topic Last Reviewed: 17 January 2020
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