title: Osteoporosis and mortality.
abstract: Osteoporosis is classified as a public health problem by healthcare authorities because it is associated with an increased risk of potentially serious fractures. Osteoporotic fractures are known to generate a heavy burden of morbidity and financial cost [1]. However, recent data indicate that some osteoporotic fractures are also associated with excess mortality. These data have led to public health measures such as the addition by the World Health Organization of fracture prevention to the list of public health priorities [2] and the update on hip fractures issued recently by the statistics department of the French ministry of health (DREES [3]). Hip fractures constitute the most severe complication of osteoporosis because they can induce permanent physical disability, loss of self-sufficiency, institutionalization and, above all, an increased risk of death. Interestingly, two recent publications support the hypothesis that optimal osteoporosis management may affect the risk of death. Here, we will review the main data linking osteoporotic fractures overall (as opposed to hip fractures only) and mortality.
authors.affiliation: Service de Rhumatologie B, Université Paris-Descartes, Hôpital Cochin, 27 rue du faubourg Saint-Jacques, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Ariane
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leboime
authors.forename: Cyrille B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Confavreux
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mehsen
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paccou
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: David
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roux
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D018450:Disease Progression; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality* / Q000503:physiopathology; D058866:Osteoporotic Fractures / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011322:Primary Prevention; D011634:Public Health; D014944:World Health Organization