Epidemiology and management of osteoporosis in the People's Republic of China: current perspectives

• Published in: Clinical interventions in aging Vol. 10; pp. 1017 - 1033
• Main Authors: Lin, Xiao, Xiong, Dan, Peng, Yi-Qun, Sheng, Zhi-Feng, Wu, Xi-Yu, Wu, Xian-Ping, Wu, Feng, Yuan, Ling-Qing, Liao, Er-Yuan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New Zealand Dove Medical Press Limited 01.01.2015; Taylor & Francis Ltd; Dove Press; Dove Medical Press
• Subjects: Accidental Falls - prevention & control; Age Distribution; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Analysis; Bone Density; Bone Density Conservation Agents - therapeutic use; Bone Diseases, Metabolic - epidemiology; Bones; Calcium; Care and treatment; China - epidemiology; Complications and side effects; Dietary Supplements; Diphosphonates - therapeutic use; Disease; Epidemiology; Exercise; Female; fracture; Fractures; Glucocorticoids - adverse effects; Health aspects; Hip Fractures - epidemiology; Hormone replacement therapy; Humans; Key words: osteoporosis; Life expectancy; Life Style; Male; management; Medicine, Chinese Traditional; Middle Aged; Older people; Original Research; Osteoporosis; Osteoporosis - diagnosis; Osteoporosis - epidemiology; Osteoporosis - therapy; Osteoporotic Fractures - epidemiology; Osteoporotic Fractures - prevention & control; Population; Risk Factors; Sex Distribution; Smoking Cessation; Spinal Fractures - epidemiology; Stem cells; Vitamin D; Vitamin deficiency; Womens health; China; Beijing China; epidemiology; osteoporosis; management; fracture
• ISSN: 1178-1998; 1176-9092; 1178-1998
• DOI: 10.2147/cia.s54613

With the progressive aging of the population, osteoporosis has gradually grown into a global health problem for men and women aged 50 years and older because of its consequences in terms of disabilities and fragility fractures. This is especially true in the People's Republic of China, which has the largest population and an increasing proportion of elderly people, as osteoporosis has become a serious challenge to the Chinese government, society, and family. Apart from the fact that all osteoporotic fractures can increase the patient's morbidity, they can also result in fractures of the hip and vertebrae, which are associated with a significantly higher mortality. The cost of osteoporotic fractures, moreover, is a heavy burden on families, society, and even the country, which is likely to increase in the future due, in part, to the improvement in average life expectancy. Therefore, understanding the epidemiology of osteoporosis is essential and is significant for developing strategies to help reduce this problem. In this review, we will summarize the epidemiology of osteoporosis in the People's Republic of China, including the epidemiology of osteoporotic fractures, focusing on preventive methods and the management of osteoporosis, which consist of basic measures and pharmacological treatments.