Promising diagnostics for osteoporosis diagnosis and fracture risk prediction

Osteoporosis affects 200 million women worldwide, approximately 10% aged 60 and 67% aged 90. Within the UK, 50% of women and 20% of men will suffer a fracture after the age of 50 and annual rates are increasing. After a hip fracture, a high proportion of patients are unable to live without support as they cannot walk independently or perform other activities of daily living. Hip fractures are also associated with increased mortality; estimates of the relative mortality risk vary from 2 to >10 in the 12 months following a hip fracture. These issues are compounded by the asymptomatic nature of osteoporosis, which often remains undiagnosed until after a fracture occurs. It is widely recognised (eg by the National Osteoporosis Society and NICE) that accurate, low cost diagnostics that enable appropriate and individual patient management are required to significantly reduce this health burden.

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