Author:

Abstract:

Although osteoporosis is mainly an asymptomatic disease, it is associated with a significant mortality and morbidity. Osteoporosis is known to be an underlying cause of various bone fractures in elderly. Hip fractures are considered the most ruining. As the population is globally ageing, osteoporosis represents a real challenge to both the implementation and expenses of many health care systems. The impact of hip fractures in the elderly is tremendous. Patients often face a reduced life expectancy as well as severe physical impairments and major implications for their subsequent quality of life. The majority of the patients fail to regain the prefracture level of their daily life activities, up to 20% requiring a permanent institutionalisation. In consequence, the total cost following a hip fracture amply exceeds its direct hospitalization expenses. As the post-World War generations are growing older, an urgent need does arise for effective and efficient prophylactic strategies. Therefore, it is important to know better the consequences of osteoporosis and of osteoporosis related hip fractures.