A new report launched today by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) in collaboration with the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industry Associations (EFPIA) reveals that the burden of fractures in Europe has been vastly underestimated. The report concludes that in Europe's five largest countries and Sweden alone, an estimated 2.5 million new fragility fractures occurred in 2010 - the equivalent of 280 fractures per hour. It also showed an astounding eighty deaths per day attributable to fragility fractures.
'Osteoporosis: Burden, health care provision and opportunities in the European Union' examines both epidemiological and health economic aspects of osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures in Europe, and specifically in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK as well as Sweden.
It is estimated that one in three women and one in five men over the age of fifty worldwide will sustain an osteoporotic fracture, often resulting in substantial pain and suffering, disability, and even death. As a result, osteoporosis imposes a significant burden on both the individual and society. IOF President John Kanis stated, "This landmark report exposes a number of major issues and challenges related to health care provision for fragility fractures. What is particularly striking is how the economic burden of fractures has increased in just over a decade. In 2000 the economic burden of fractures for the then European Union was estimated at - 36 billion. The current estimate of - 30.7 billion for just six countries largely reflects the increased number of fractures due to Europe's ageing population."
Several of the key findings regarding the economic and health cost of fragility fractures for the six countries studied include: