Deakin University has published research which has found that almost six per cent of men and 23 per cent of women over 50 in Australia suffer from osteoporosis.

 

The research team, based at Deakin’s School of Medicin at Barwon Health, have published the results of the Geelong Osteoporosis Study in the latest issue of the Medical Journal of Australia.

 

Researchers conducted the study of 1500 men and 1500 women aged between 20 and 97 years.

 

"Our results show that bone mineral density decreases to concerningly low levels in many Australians over the age of 50,” explained Deakin’s Associate Professor Julie Pasco.

 

“Osteopenia—lower than normal bone mineral density considered to be a precursor to osteoporosis—was reported in 56 per cent of men over 50 years old and 48 per cent for women.

 

“Osteoporosis, where bone mineral density drops to such low levels that the bones become brittle, was found to affect almost six per cent of men and 23 per cent of women over 50.”

 

The researchers found high rates of osteoporosis in the over 80 age group.

 

“While it is more of a problem for women, with half of those over 80 affected, large numbers of men also develop the condition, with 18.5 per cent of the elderly men in the study living with osteoporosis,” study co-author Associate Professor Mark Kotowicz said.