世界卫生组织将骨质疏松定义为骨密度低于年轻人骨质标准值2.5个标准差。[6]Kanis JA. Assessment of fracture risk and its application to screening for postmenopausal osteoporosis. Report of a WHO Study Group. World Health Organization technical report series. Osteoporosis Int. 1994;843:1-129.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7696835?tool=bestpractice.com全世界范围内估计有2亿人患有骨质疏松,每3个女性中就有一个,每8个男性中就有一个。[7]Tarantino U, Cannata G, Lecce D, et al. Incidence of fragility fractures. Aging Clin Exp Res. 2007;19(4 Suppl):7-11.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18182886?tool=bestpractice.com英国骨质疏松协会估计在全英国有300万人患有骨质疏松。根据美国骨质疏松协会的估计,骨密度降低影响了超过4400万美国人,而15%绝经后白人女性和35%的65岁以上女性患有骨质疏松。同时预计到2020年,骨质疏松患病率将上升50%,也就是说有6140万人(4090万女性)会患有骨质疏松。[8]America's bone health: the state of osteoporosis and low bone mass in our nation. Washington, DC: National Osteoporosis Foundation; 2002.
估计50%白人女性一生中会至少一次患有骨质疏松骨折,女性患骨质疏松骨折的概率是男性的6倍,男性罹患骨质疏松性骨折的风险虽然较低但仍然显著。骨质疏松性椎体压缩骨折是老年人致残的主要原因。[9]Johnell O. Advances in osteoporosis: Better identification of risk factors can reduce morbidity and mortality. J Intern Med. 1996;239:299-304.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8774383?tool=bestpractice.com[10]Iqbal MM, Sobhan T. Osteoporosis: a review. Mo Med. 2002;99:19-24.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11816351?tool=bestpractice.com估计美国每年有550 000例骨质疏松性椎体骨折,而在英国有120 000例。[11]Burge R, Dawson-Hughes B, Solomon DH, et al. Incidence and economic burden of osteoporosis-related fractures in the United States, 2005-2025. J Bone Miner Res. 2007;22:465-475.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1359/jbmr.061113/fullhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17144789?tool=bestpractice.com2000年时世界范围内有140万例椎体骨折,其中欧洲数量最多。[12]Johnell O, Kanis JA. An estimate of the worldwide prevalence and disability associated with osteoporotic fractures. Osteoporos Int. 2006;17:1726-1733.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16983459?tool=bestpractice.com骨折会导致疼痛,严重者失去功能,进展性椎体骨折会导致脊柱前凸。这些骨折会显著影响生活质量、功能、精神状态和寿命。[13]Gold DT. The clinical impact of vertebral fractures: Quality of life in women with osteoporosis. Bone. 1996;18(suppl 3):185S-189S.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8777086?tool=bestpractice.com[14]Silverman SL. The clinical consequences of vertebral compression fracture. Bone. 1992;13(suppl 2):27S-31S.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1627411?tool=bestpractice.com