Date:18/02/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/02/18/stories/2005021815290300.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

`Awareness on osteoporosis needs to be raised'

By Divya Ramamurthi

BANGALORE, FEB. 17. Over 30 million women in India have osteoporosis, yet it is not being taken seriously, says Rohini Handa, secretary-general of the Osteoporosis Society of India.

"It is being under diagnosed in India. Every fracture a person sustains after 50 years is unfortunately being attributed to old age instead of osteoporosis," he said.

Osteoporosis is the thinning and weakening of the bones that leads to their breaking even with minimum force. It is not a disease and individuals do not develop it suddenly. The fracture of the arms, legs, wrist and spine in a person with osteoporosis will heal normally, but they are susceptible to have fractures more often.

"Most important, after almost all these fractures, the person's risk of death increases significantly. The reason is still now known but it has been found that for almost all osteoporosis fractures the person's risk of death doubles compared to that of a non-osteoporosis person of the same age," Dr. Handa said. There are no warning symptoms of osteoporosis, a fracture is the first indication. However, it can be detected by an X-ray.

Osteoporosis affects both men and women. For women, there is a particularly important factor — menopause. During this phase, they lose bones rapidly for 5 to 10 years. However, the high percentage of osteoporosis in women has relegated to the background its prevalence in men.

"Over 30 per cent of all hip fractures and 20 per cent of vertebral fractures suffered by men are because of osteoporosis. We need to pay attention to them as well," according to N. Prahalad, rheumatologist.

Sridhar Prasad, orthopaedist, says the magnitude of osteoporosis is exaggerated in India and it is not an issue that people should be very concerned with. "Genetically, as a race Indians are not prone to it. It is a problem of western civilisations."

This is not true, says Dr. Handa. According to him research has shown that Indians have not only a high prevalence of osteoporosis but bone loss may also commence at a younger age. This may be because in India a large number of people have relatively low vitamin D and because their intake of calcium is insufficient.

The one thing that is very good for osteoporosis is physical activity.

"It is like you take care of your retirement benefits. You also need to take care of your lower limbs," says Dr. Handa.