Osteoporosis: management in primary care

Direct medical costs from fragility fractures to the UK healthcare economy were estimated at £1.8 billion in 2000, with the potential to increase to £2.2 billion by 2025. It is therefore important for primary care clinicians to be aware of osteoporosis and the importance of prevention of fragility fractures. Osteoporosis is a disease characterised by low bone mass and structural deterioration of bone tissue, with a consequent increase in bone fragility and susceptibility to fracture. Osteoporosis leads to nearly nine million fractures annually worldwide,1 and over 300,000 patients with fragility fractures present to hospitals in the UK each year.2 Fragility