Post-menopausal women in Asia hospitalized with fragility fracture are not aware whether they had osteoporosis or not

New results from a survey of 1,122 post-menopausal women in Asia found that nearly half (48.5 percent) were not aware whether or not they had osteoporosis despite being hospitalized with a fragility fracture. A fragility fracture is one potential indicator of osteoporosis, along with BMD measurements, family history and other factors, according to International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF). Of the women who were told that they have osteoporosis (51.5 percent), 40.5 percent did not receive any treatment. The results of this survey, which was conducted in Hong Kong SAR, Thailand, South Korea, mainland China, Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan region, were presented at the 1^st Scientific Meeting of the Asian Federation of Osteoporosis Societies. The survey was conducted by MSD, also known in the United States and Canada as Merck.

A fragility fracture occurs in a non-traumatic situation where bones would not break under normal force; these fractures are often considered a strong clinical indicator in the diagnosis of osteoporosis in post-menopausal women, along with other factors considered. According to the IOF, the incidence of hip fracture has risen two-to-three-fold in most Asian countries in the past 30 years and IOF estimates that more than 50 percent of all osteoporotic hip fractures will occur in Asia by the year 2050. Guidelines from the IOF recommend that postmenopausal women with a previous hip or vertebral fracture can be considered for osteoporosis treatment along with other factors.

"This study involves data from seven Asian countries/regions to document the treatment gap of fracture patients," said Professor Annie Kung, lead investigator. "It reminds us of the urgency we have to address this important disease in Asia."