Low Frequency of Treatment of Osteoporosis Among Postmenopausal Women Following a Fracture

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Abstract
OSTEOPOROSIS IS a chronic and progressive condition that leads to decreased bone mass and skeletal fragility; in turn, these conditions can lead to fractures, disability, pain, deformity, and even death.1-5 It is estimated that at least 10 million Americans, including 25% of all women older than 50 years, have osteoporosis.1,3 The lifetime risk of a typical osteoporotic fracture (ie, of the wrist, hip, or vertebra) is about 40%.1-4 The annual cost of treating osteoporosis and its sequelae in the United States has been estimated at $13.8 billion,1,3-5 compared with $7.5 billion for congestive heart failure or $6.2 billion for asthma.6