Division of Rheumatology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland. Supported in part by grant AR35584 from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS).
J Clin Rheumatol. 1997 Apr;3(2 Suppl):9-13. doi: 10.1097/00124743-199704001-00003.
Osteoporosis is a "disease characterized by low bone mass and microar-chitectural deterioration of bone tissue, leading to enhanced bone fragility and a consequent increase in fracture risk" (Consensus Development Conference. Diagnosis, prophylaxis, and treatment of osteoporosis. Am J Med 1993;94:646-650). The disease and its associated fractures are major health problems in countries with aging populations. Hip fracture is the most serious of these, carrying a heavy burden of mortality, subsequent disability, and institutionalization in many instances. Vertebral fractures, which are quite common in elderly women, impose a heavy burden of morbidity. With the development of noninvasive methods for measuring bone density and the increasing availability of effective pharmacologic interventions, it is now possible to treat osteoporosis and prevent fracture, Epidemiologic and clinical research are yielding data concerning genetic and lifestyle factors that will be helpful in targeting preventive efforts.
骨质疏松症是一种“以骨量低、骨组织微观结构恶化为特征的疾病，导致骨脆性增加，骨折风险相应增加”（骨质疏松症诊断、预防和治疗共识发展会议。美国医学杂志 1993；94:646-650）。在人口老龄化的国家，这种疾病及其相关骨折是主要的健康问题。髋部骨折是最严重的一种，在许多情况下，其死亡率、随后的残疾和住院率都很高。在老年妇女中很常见的椎体骨折则带来了沉重的发病负担。随着骨密度无创测量方法的发展和有效药物干预措施的日益普及，现在已经可以治疗骨质疏松症和预防骨折。流行病学和临床研究正在提供有关遗传和生活方式因素的数据，这将有助于确定预防工作的重点。
