Social Impact of Osteoporotic Fractures: Early Diagnosis and Possible Therapies

Osteoporosis affects about 200 million subjects in the world and is responsible for 8.9 million fractures each year. The frequency of osteoporotic fractures is rising in many countries, due to the increased longevity of the population. In Europe, the annual cost of all osteoporotic fractures has been estimated to be 30 billion of Euros. In this paper, after an overview of the socioeconomic impact of osteoporosis in the world and in Italy, with particular focus on Apulia region, the most important techniques used to assess the fracture risk are briefly described. Moreover, the most commonly used pharmacological agents for the treatment of osteoporosis are reported. The aim of this review is to analyze the main factors causing the huge impact of osteoporosis on healthcare system, in terms of diagnosis and therapies, and to illustrate recent advances for treatment and prevention of this "silent disease".