Osteoporosis risk rises in aging Asian population

MANILA, Philippines - Asian women are more likely get osteoporosis because our bones are thinner than those of our Caucasian counterparts. The belief that osteoporosis is prevalent in Western countries and rare in Asia is a myth. This was validated by the recent IOF (International Osteoporosis Foundation) Audit Report. 

With a rapidly aging Asian population, osteoporosis is becoming a very serious and growing threat in Asia, particularly because it is often under-recognised and under-treated disease in this region. Fracture projections by the World Health Organization (WHO) indicate that by 2050, more than 50 percent of all osteoporotic hip fractures will occur in Asia. Further, some 10 to 20 percent of people suffering from hip fractures die within a year of suffering the fracture, making it a disease that will significantly impact the region’s population.

But what exactly is osteoporosis? Osteoporosis, a condition that features loss of the normal bone density, is the culprit behind those curving spines and loss of height. At its advanced stage, the disease can lead to porous bones that fracture easily — the spine, hips, wrists, and almost any other part of a person’s skeletal system.

Called the silent disease, osteoporosis can affect a person’s bones for years and may remain undetected beneath the cover of skin, only to reveal itself in the event of an excruciatingly painful fracture, which may give subsequent complications, including chronic pain, disability, a diminished quality of life and even premature death.

Quite apart from the very real physical problems associated with osteoporosis, the disease comes with hefty socio-economic costs as well. Hospitalization stays related to hip fractures are often longer than those of other diseases such as breast cancer, prostate cancer or even heart disease, and can cost more to treat. In fact, the IOF has forecast that the worldwide cost of osteoporosis will have reached an immense $131.5 billion by 2050.

Unlike these other diseases though, osteoporosis is highly preventable, by maintaining a healthy diet, adequate levels of calcium and vitamin D intake as well as moderate exercise throughout life, and reducing risk factors such as smoking and limiting your alcohol intake.

The IOF report has noted that widespread vitamin D deficiency and low calcium intake throughout Asia are important factors to consider in understanding bone health issues for the region. The average dietary calcium intake for the adult Asian population is only 450 mg/day, far below the FAO/WHO recommendations for calcium intake of 1000-1300 mg/day.

The problem, however, is that there is a serious lack of awareness about osteoporosis amongst both healthcare professionals and the general public in most countries. The IOF report notes that at present, most treatments, prevention and education efforts are limited to urban areas — a significant issue given that the majority of the population in populous countries such as China and India still live in rural areas.

There is an urgent need therefore for Asian countries to understand more about this preventable disease and take action to fight it.

Fonterra has been doing its part in the fight against osteoporosis, spending more than $40 million on bone research and development in the last decade to better understand the disease, including 15 human clinical trials on bone health in the last eight years.

Since 2005, Anlene has been providing free ultrasound bone scans through the Anlene Bone Health Check across Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and Indonesia to help educate people about the health of their bones.

But public awareness and education programmes can only go so far. Individuals must recognize the severity of the problem and make a conscious decision to make changes to their lifestyles. Only then can we create a world without osteoporotic fractures.