TEHRAN – Some 46 percent of women and 28 percent of men age 50 and older in the country are suffering from osteoporosis, an official with the Ministry of Health has said.

Osteoporosis causes death in 20 to 50 percent of cases caused by fractures, IRNA quoted Fatemeh Hajivalizadeh as saying.

Therefore, it is important to consume vitamin D and calcium from childhood to old age, she added.

Annually, more than 170,000 cases of fractures caused by osteoporosis occur in the country, she noted.

The International Osteoporosis Foundation has said more than 200 million people are suffering from osteoporosis around the world.

Osteoporosis causes bones to become weak and brittle, so brittle that a fall or even mild stresses such as bending over or coughing can cause a fracture. Osteoporosis-related fractures most commonly occur in the hip, wrist, or spine. Bone is a living tissue that is constantly being broken down and replaced.

Every year, 4,200 Iranians die of osteoporosis and its complications, Afshin Ostovar, head of the non-communicable diseases management office of the Ministry of Health, said in August.

This disease has not attracted as much attention as its importance, while its economic burden is equal to heart attacks and strokes. The disease incurs a cost of 70 trillion rials (nearly $259 million) for the health system annually, he highlighted.

The International Osteoporosis Foundation has said more than 200 million people are suffering from osteoporosis around the world. One in three women over the age of 50 years and one in five men will experience osteoporotic fractures in their lifetime.

Despite the high financial burden of osteoporosis and its fractures, it can be treated with the available drugs and effective treatment of people, but unfortunately, many osteoporosis patients are not aware of their disease.

In Iran, National Osteoporosis Prevention Week is held annually on October 18 to 24. This year, the event was marked with the titles of osteoporosis and nutrition, osteoporosis and physical activity, osteoporosis and vitamin D and sunlight, osteoporosis and prevention of falls and fractures, osteoporosis and timely diagnosis, osteoporosis and the timely initiation of treatment, osteoporosis and the follow-up of complete treatment.

Providing the required medicine, insurance coverage, bone densitometry in deprived areas and appropriate treatment in hospitals for people suffering from osteoporotic fractures are among the programs of the Ministry of Health for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis.

MG