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Soy & Osteoporosis

Background Information on Osteoporosis

What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break. If not prevented or if left untreated, osteoporosis can progress painlessly until a bone breaks. These broken bones, also known as fractures, occur typically in the hip, spine, and wrist. 39

Interesting facts and figures
  • On average, women lose 10 centimetres in height in later life 40 .
  • World-wide there was an estimated 1.5 million hip fractures in 2007 and it is estimated that this will rise to over 6 million in 2050 41 .
Australian Statistics
    • 2.2 million Australians have an Osteoporosis related condition - this is expected to rise to 3 million by 2021.
    • One in two women and one in three men over sixty will sustain a fracture due to osteoporosis.
    • Someone is admitted to hospital with an osteoporotic fracture every 5-6 minutes, average 262 hospitalisations per day.
    • Over 50% of people with hip fracture will require long term nursing care (Royal Australasian College of Physicians).
    • 25% of people with hip fractures die within twelve months.
    • Direct health related costs for osteoporosis are estimated to be $1.9 billion, which includes treatment and rehabilitation costs.

Source: Osteoporosis Australia, www.osteoporosis.org.au, accessed September 2009.