[Health Tip] Today is 'Osteoporosis Day'... Not Only Women but Men Should Also Be Careful

October 20th is World Osteoporosis Day, established by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF). Osteoporosis is a condition whose prevention is increasingly emphasized as super-aging progresses.

Osteoporosis is known to primarily affect women after middle age, but recently, the number of male patients has been rapidly increasing. In middle-aged and older men, bone mineral density decreases as male hormones decline, and the amount and strength of bones can weaken during the aging process. In particular, osteoporosis in men tends to occur at a relatively older age and often develops secondarily after other diseases, so caution is necessary.

Osteoporosis refers to a condition where there is no change in the chemical composition of the bone, but a lack of calcium that keeps the bones strong increases the likelihood of fractures. As minerals in the bone are lost, density decreases and bone strength weakens, causing fractures even from minor impacts. It progresses gradually without noticeable symptoms, and often by the time pain is felt, fractures have already occurred.

According to the "Osteoporosis and Osteoporotic Fracture Fact Sheet 2023," released by the National Health Insurance Service in collaboration with the Korean Society for Bone and Mineral Research, the prevalence of osteoporosis in those aged 50 and older is 22.4%, and the prevalence of osteopenia is 47.7%. This means that one in five adults has osteoporosis, and one in two has osteopenia. Among those aged 50 and older, 37.3% of women and 7.5% of men have osteoporosis, showing that women have about five times higher prevalence than men. However, osteopenia prevalence is similar between women and men at 48.9% and 46.8%, respectively.

Dr. Oh Seung-mok, an orthopedic surgeon at Bupyeong Himchan Hospital, explained, "Women are more prone to osteoporosis, but men are at greater risk. Women after menopause are aware of and pay much attention to osteoporosis, but men often do not, and male osteoporosis is often only recognized after fractures occur."

[Photo by Himchan Hospital]

The fatality rate after osteoporotic fractures is higher in men than in women. Fractures mainly occur in the hip, spine, femur, wrist, and humerus, with hip and spine fractures having particularly high mortality rates. Patients must remain bedridden for a long time during recovery, during which various complications can arise. As of 2021, the one-year fatality rate after hip fracture was 24.2% in men, significantly higher than 15.7% in women. The one-year fatality rate after spinal fracture was also more than twice as high in men at 10.6%, compared to 4.9% in women.

Osteoporosis progresses more slowly in men than in women and shows no symptoms until fractures occur, causing treatment delays in male patients compared to females. Since aging is the main cause of osteoporosis, it is necessary for both men and women over middle age to regularly undergo bone mineral density testing. Early detection and prevention are crucial because it is difficult to fully recover once osteoporosis develops.

Bone mineral density is measured using the standardized dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) test. The bone density of the lumbar spine and femur is measured and compared to that of a normal adult. The score is expressed as a T-score, which indicates the number of standard deviations above or below the normal bone density. A T-score within -1.0 is considered normal, between -1.0 and -2.5 indicates osteopenia, and below -2.5 is diagnosed as osteoporosis.

When osteoporosis is diagnosed without fractures, it is important to improve lifestyle habits and undergo medication to eliminate fracture risk factors. Medication suppresses bone resorption, and reducing alcohol, smoking, and caffeine intake while consuming adequate calcium and vitamin D through milk, cheese, and shiitake mushrooms is helpful. Regular exercise not only strengthens bones but also helps maintain balance, reducing the risk of falls and fractures.

Dr. Oh Seung-mok of Bupyeong Himchan Hospital advised, "For osteoporosis prevention and treatment, exercises that apply weight to stimulate bones and strengthen muscles are essential. However, it is best to avoid sit-ups, exercises that excessively move the spine, exercises that cause pain, and even squatting postures in daily life."