据估计,2004年美国有1000万骨质疏松患者,导致髋骨和椎骨骨折的风险升高。[5]US Department of Health and Human Services. Bone health and osteoporosis: a report of the Surgeon General. October 2004. http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/reports/ (last accessed 27 September 2016).http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK45513/据估计,2001年澳大利亚有约200万人受骨质疏松影响。[6]O'Neill S, MacLennan A, Bass S, et al. Guidelines for the management of postmenopausal osteoporosis for GPs. Aust Fam Physician. 2004;33:910-919.http://www.racgp.org.au/afpbackissues/2004/200410/20041031oneill.pdfhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15584331?tool=bestpractice.com2012 年,苏格兰 50 岁以上的人群中,女性骨折发生率为 1.98%,男性骨折发生率为 0.84%。[7]Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network. Management of osteoporosis and the prevention of fragility fractures: a national clinical guideline. March 2015. http://www.sign.ac.uk/ (last accessed 27 September 2016).http://www.sign.ac.uk/pdf/SIGN142.pdf在英国和欧洲,50 岁以上的人群中,由骨质疏松症引发的骨折影响 50% 的女性和 20% 的男性。[8]Poole KE, Compston JE. Osteoporosis and its management. BMJ. 2006;333:1251-1256.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1702459/http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17170416?tool=bestpractice.com
骨质疏松多发于绝经后的白种女性,但所有种族的男性、绝经前女性、儿童都可患该病。白种女性发生脆性骨折的终生风险是40%。[3]WHO Scientific Group on the Prevention and Management of Osteoporosis. Prevention and management of osteoporosis: report of a WHO scientific group. (WHO technical report series: 921.) Geneva, Switzerland: WHO; 2000.http://whqlibdoc.who.int/trs/WHO_TRS_921.pdf在美国,髋骨骨质疏松的发病率在白种女性中最高(17%),高于西班牙裔(12%)和黑人女性(8%)。然而,在美国以及全球范围内,白人女性的发病率有所差异。例如,美国白种女性的发病率比英国高。[3]WHO Scientific Group on the Prevention and Management of Osteoporosis. Prevention and management of osteoporosis: report of a WHO scientific group. (WHO technical report series: 921.) Geneva, Switzerland: WHO; 2000.http://whqlibdoc.who.int/trs/WHO_TRS_921.pdf在每年1000万例骨折中,39%见于男性;髋部占30%,前臂占20%,椎骨占40%,肱骨占25%。无论男女,骨折的风险随年龄增大而增加。[9]Khosla S. Update in male osteoporosis. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010;95:3-10.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20056806?tool=bestpractice.com