A simple three-minute online test could help people identify a hidden condition that affects over three million Brits, leading to weakened bones and easy fractures. Osteoporosis sufferers are at high risk of breaking bones even from minor falls or bumps.
Annually, about 50,000 individuals in the UK seek treatment for fractures caused by this condition. Although osteoporosis can strike anyone, including children, the likelihood increases with age.
For women past the age of 50, the statistics are particularly stark: one in two are likely to suffer a broken bone due to osteoporosis. Many remain unaware they have the condition until an unfortunate fall results in a fracture.
In some cases, it takes several fractures before osteoporosis is diagnosed. The Royal Osteoporosis Society, however, insists that getting the condition “isn’t inevitable.”
They explained: “Osteoporosis, a condition that causes bones to weaken and break more easily, isn’t an inevitable part of getting older. Poor bone health can affect anyone, with one in two women over 50 expected to break a bone because of it, and one in five men. These broken bones aren’t just painful setbacks as many people die of fracture-related causes such as from diabetes or lung cancer.”
Despite the risks, data reveals that two-thirds of adults in the UK have never thought they might be at risk of poor bone health, and over half have never given their bone health a moment’s consideration.
Kirsty Carne, an Osteoporosis Specialist Nurse at the ROS, stated: “Broken bones caused by osteoporosis can be painful, impact on daily life and sometimes lead to life-changing disability, but so few of us are aware we might be at risk. It’s never too early or too late to take action for your bone health.”
“There are a wide range of everyday changes we can all make to protect our bones and prevent fractures, but only if we find out our risk and take action where we need to.”
In 2022, the Royal Osteoporosis Society unveiled the UK’s first-ever bone health risk checker, offering free, personalised advice about osteoporosis risk. Since its launch, over 330,000 individuals have utilised the tool and received practical guidance on how to improve their bone health.
This has led to an estimated 41,000 patients receiving a diagnosis. Jamie Grier, Director of Income and Engagement at the ROS, commented: “In the UK we spend £4.5 billion on managing osteoporotic fractures, rather than preventing them, creating a huge burden on our NHS.
“The risk checker gives people at higher risk of broken bones access to a vital diagnosis and the therapies they need more quickly. A fifth of women who have broken a bone break three or more before being diagnosed, so as well as saving many patients from the pain of preventable fractures, it’ll also save the country a fortune.”