title: Geographic differences in fractures among women.
abstract: Osteoporotic fracture is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality in women throughout the world. However, significant variation in hip fracture rates among women from different nations has been observed and is likely to represent a combination of real and apparent differences due to ascertainment bias. Higher rates are observed in Caucasian women, with lowest rates observed in black women and intermediate rates among Asian women. These differences are likely to represent a combination of genetic and environmental differences; for example, among European women, the highest fracture rates are observed in Scandinavian women where vitamin D insufficiency is common. In all groups, an increase in absolute fracture numbers is anticipated due to demographic changes.
authors.affiliation: The MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit (University of Southampton), Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Litwic
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Cyrus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dennison
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D058866:Osteoporotic Fractures / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000208:ethnology; D013472:Sunlight; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016387:Women's Health / Q000208:ethnology*