Burden of osteoporosis.

UNLABELLED: The number of the people with osteoporosis increases as the population ages. Increasing numbers of patients with osteoporotic fractures may have a serious economic impact on society and on the quality of life of the patient. We review some literature and provide expert opinion on the burden of osteoporosis. Awareness among clinicians and health care professionals on osteoporosis should be increased to overcome the burden of the disease. Although most of the osteoporotic fractures are treated by orthopaedic surgeons, many patients with these problems are not diagnosed appropriately and treated for probable osteoporosis. Appropriate diagnosis of the disease is essential to prevent osteoporotic fractures and related mortality and morbidity. Indirect costs and sociologic and psychological impact of fractures should be evaluated together with the direct costs of the disease. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Economic and decision analysis, level V (expert opinion). See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of the levels of evidence.