U.S. Surgeon General: Immediate action needed to prevent osteoporotic fractures.

2004 NOV 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona, MD, MPH, FACS, has warned in a new report that by 2020, half of all American citizens older than 50 will be at risk for fractures from osteoporosis and low bone mass if no immediate action is taken by individuals at risk, doctors, health systems, and policymakers.

The report, "Bone Health and Osteoporosis: A Report of the Surgeon General," issued October 14, 2004, says that 10 million Americans over the age of 50 have osteoporosis, the most common bone disease, while another 34 million are at risk for developing osteoporosis. And each year, roughly 1.5 million people suffer a bone fracture related to osteoporosis.

This report is the first-ever Surgeon General's report on the topic of bone health. Osteoporosis and other bone diseases, such as Paget's disease and osteogenesis imperfecta can lead to a downward spiral in physical health and quality of life, including losing the ability to walk, stand up, or dress, and can lead to premature death.

Other findings in the report include:

* About 20% of senior citizens who suffer a hip fracture die within a year of fracture.

* About 20% of individuals with a hip fracture end up in a nursing home within a year.

* Hip fractures account for 300,000 hospitalizations each year.