European osteoporosis spinal injury burden 'continues to grow'RSS Feed

One in three women and one in five men in Europe aged 50 and over are expected to suffer a spinal injury as a result of osteoporosis, according to new forecasts.

The UK is one of six countries including Germany, France and Sweden in which fractures caused by osteoporosis pose a significant economic and health burden, the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) report indicated.

In 2010, 2.5 million new fractures occurred across these countries, with the cost estimated as equal to 2.5 per cent of total spending on healthcare across all six.

IOF president John Kanis explained: "In 2000 the economic burden of fractures for the then European Union was estimated at €36 billion (£31.5 billion).

"The current estimate of €30.7 billion (£26.3 billion) for just six countries largely reflects the increased number of fractures due to Europe's ageing population."

Around three million people in the UK have osteoporosis, suffering in excess of 230,000 fragility fractures each year.

Wrists, hops and spinal injury are the most common fractures in sufferers.

Serious Law, award winning spinal injury law firm

Posted by Paul Breen

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