title: [Post-menopausal osteoporosis. Epidemiologic aspects].
abstract: The purpose of this study is to point out the epidemiological features concerning the frequency and seriousness of post-menopausal osteoporosis, and concerning screening and prevention of osteoporotic fractures. Osteoporosis is a condition very widespread, characterised by fragility fractures. It has been estimated that in France one million of women suffer from vertebral fractures. Osteoporosis can alter the quality of life in various ways. Its cost is high, representing 4 billions francs a year in France only for hip fractures. The only preventive treatment that has been agreed on universally is oestrogen therapy. The fact that this treatment is not systematically recommended does not explain that only 8% among french menopausal women take oestrogen. The factors available at present to identify women at high risk of osteoporotic fractures are risk factors evaluated by clinical history, biological markers of bone formation and measurements of bone mass. None of these risk factors have enough sensibility and specificity to define accurately risks groups. Furthermore it is necessary to specify the effects of treatments associating oestrogens and progestogens prescribed in France, in particular effects on the risks of cardio-vascular diseases and breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U 149, Villejuif.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ringa
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bréart
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D015519:Bone Density; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
vernacular_title: Ostéoporose post-ménopausique. Aspects épidémiologiques.