In the United States, an estimated 10 million adults over the age of 50 have osteoporosis and more than double that number are at risk for breaking a bone. Each year over 2 million fractures due to osteoporosis occur in the United States. Worldwide nearly 9 million fractures happen each year.
Both Women and Men are at Risk
White women are at highest risk. In fact, osteoporosis is the most common disease in white postmenopausal women. Men are not immune – up to 30% of the 2 million fractures in adults over age 50 each year in the US occur in men. One in two women in the US will break a bone over the age of 50 and one in four men will too.
All Adults at Risk
Regardless of race or ethnicity, everyone is at risk for osteoporosis. However, the risk varies across race and ethnicity. Blacks are at lowest risk. Hispanics have an intermediate risk and Asians are at high risk similar to whites.
Older Age Increases Risk
The older you are, the higher your risk. With increasing age over 50 years, the numbers of affected individuals goes up with dramatic increases in the 70s and 80s. Regardless of your bone density, the bone microstructure becomes thinner and more fragile with aging.