Age is a major risk factor for osteoporosis in women as well as men. Over the age of 50, an estimated 1 in 2 Caucasian women and 1 in 4 Caucasian men will break a bone due to osteoporosis. Other racial and ethnic groups also have increased risk with advancing age.
Women
In women, wrist fractures are common in the 50s and 60s age group then decrease with older ages as other fractures become more common. On average, fractures in the spine start occurring in the 60s then increase markedly with each decade. Hip fractures about a decade later in the 70s then continue to increase with age.
Men
Men have a lower number of wrist fractures than women that appears fairly constant across age. In contrast, spine and hip fractures follow a similar trajectory but start about 10 years later than women.
The older you are the greater your risk of breaking a bone. This is true for both women and men.