Osteoporosis is a
disease of
bone leading to an increased risk of
fracture. In osteoporosis the
bone mineral density (BMD) is reduced, bone microarchitecture is disrupted, and the amount and variety of non-
collagenous proteins in bone is altered. Osteoporosis is defined by the
World Health Organization (WHO) in women as a bone mineral density 2.5
standard deviations below peak bone mass (20-year-old sex-matched healthy person average) as measured by
DXA; the term "established osteoporosis" includes the presence of a
fragility fracture. Osteoporosis is most common in women after the
menopause, when it is called postmenopausal osteoporosis, but may develop in men and premenopausal women in the presence of particular hormonal disorders and other
chronic diseases or as a result of
smoking and
medications, specifically
glucocorticoids, when the disease is called steroid- or glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (SIOP or GIOP). Osteoporosis can be prevented with lifestyle advice and medication, and preventing falls in people with known or suspected osteoporosis is an established way to prevent fractures. Osteoporosis can be treated with
bisphosphonates and various other medical treatments.
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