June 12, 2022

Housewife Kim (57) suffered an accident that broke her wrist bone when she stumbled and fell while hiking with her child following a long time in warmer weather. Kim, who visited her hospital, was diagnosed with a fracture due to osteoporosis, with his bones weakened following menopause. When osteoporotic fractures occur in the spine or hip joint, movement is difficult and the quality of life can be greatly deteriorated.

As the seasonal factors of increasing outdoor activities coincide with the full-fledged recovery from COVID-19, a fracture warning light has been turned on for osteoporosis patients. It is often thought that there are many fractures in winter, when ice accidents are common, but in reality, this is not the case. In winter, most elderly people tend to reduce outdoor activities and be careful regarding falls, but these days, as the temperature rises, not only outdoor activities increase but also relatively little attention to falls. In fact, according to the 2020 statistical data of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, the number of patients who visited the hospital for fractures due to osteoporosis was the highest in December as well as in June, which is the winter season. Jang Dong-gyun, professor of orthopedic surgery at Inje University Saenggye Paik Hospital, said, “For women over 50, whose bone health can deteriorate rapidly following menopause, it is necessary to undergo an osteoporosis test before going outdoors. do,” he advised.

◇The silent killer osteoporosis… Fracture risk even with mild coughing and sneezing = Osteoporosis is a condition in which bone density is low, which can expose you to fracture risk. After menopause, postmenopausal women do not secrete estrogen, the female hormone, so bone resorption speed is accelerated, and as a result, bones become weak within 5 to 10 years. In addition, vitamin D, which influences the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus, is closely related to bone health. According to ‘Analysis of Nutritional Deficiency and Obesity Treatment Status for the Last 5 Years (2017-2021)’ published by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service in April, the number of vitamin D deficiency patients increased by 186.3% in 2021 compared to 2017, of which 190,000 were women. The number of females was 3.5 times higher than that of 55,000 males.

In adults over the age of 50, the prevalence of osteoporosis in women is five times higher than in men. 4 out of 10 women over 50 (37.3%) are osteoporotic patients, and the prevalence increases sharply with age. The prevalence of osteoporosis in women by age doubles for every 10 years from the age of 50 to over 70, and as many as 7 out of 10 (68.5%) of those over the age of 70 are osteoporotic patients.

If osteoporosis is left untreated, the risk of fractures gradually increases as the bone density continues to decrease and the bones become weaker. In this state, bones can be broken not only by a fall but also by a light impact in daily life, and in severe cases, a fracture can occur due to coughing or sneezing. In particular, when an osteoporotic fracture occurs in the spine or hip joint, it becomes difficult to move and loses independence and needs help from others. Not only does the quality of life greatly decrease, but it can also leave sequelae such as fracture complications and disability, and in severe cases, it can even take life. Moreover, once an osteoporotic fracture occurs, the risk of another fracture increases by 2 to 10 times, so experts recommend early management and treatment to avoid experiencing a fracture in the first place.

◇From understanding the bone condition accurately… Consistent treatment required following diagnosis = In 2018, as the Ministry of Health and Welfare adjusted the national health examination cycle according to age and life cycle characteristics, the examination cycle was extended in consideration of the high prevalence of osteoporosis following middle age. As a result, women aged 54 and 66 can receive a bone density test free of charge through the national health checkup. Professor Jang Dong-gyun said, “The more repeated fractures, the worse the prognosis, the domino effect. It is most important to prevent fractures early in order to avoid the complications and secondary fractures that can be caused by fractures. Because the risk of occurrence increases due to the influence of hormones, it is very important to check the bone condition in advance and actively treat it.”

Since osteoporosis is also a chronic disease such as diabetes and high blood pressure, experts advise that it is important to prevent fractures through long-term and continuous drug treatment. However, according to the Korean Society of Bone Metabolism, only 33.5% of osteoporosis patients are receiving drug treatment, and even this shows that more than half stop treatment following 6 months of treatment. This is because many people find it difficult to consistently take osteoporosis drugs. However, the convenience of taking osteoporosis drugs is also increasing with advanced technology. Among the various osteoporosis treatment drugs, denosumab is being introduced one following another with high convenience, such as administering only once every 6 months.

Do not rely solely on medication. It is also necessary to improve lifestyle habits such as physical fitness through exercise for 30 minutes a day or more 3 times a week. In addition, daily calcium intake of 1200 mg, daily intake of 800 units (IU) of vitamin D, and intake of nutrients such as vitamin C, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and copper are helpful in treating osteoporosis.

Professor Jang Dong-gyun said, “Osteoporosis has no symptoms until fracture, so patients delay treatment or stop treatment arbitrarily in the middle. It is a disease that requires lifelong management, so it is important to establish a long-term treatment strategy through sufficient consultation with the medical staff at the beginning of treatment.”

Reporter Lee Yong-gwon [email protected]