Liel Yair
Department of Endocrinology, Soroka Medical Center, Ben-Gurion University in the Negev, Beer-Sheba, Israel.
Harefuah. 2002 Feb;141(2):170-7, 222.
While many still consider osteoporosis a gender-specific condition of women, an increasing volume of data is accumulating on the epidemiology, pathophysiology and treatment of osteoporosis in men. The main conclusions arising from the available data indicate that the number of osteoporotic men is increasing, and is expected to continue rising due to the increase in life expectancy for men. Risk factors for osteoporotic fractures are similar in men and women. Despite some gender differences in the pathophysiology of osteoporosis, responses to available osteoporosis treatments seem to be the same. Based on available data, it is recommended to implement preventive measures (calcium and vitamin D supplementation) on aging men, similar to women, and to review the official policy on the management of osteoporosis to also include men at high risk.
