Pharmacy Daily | Poor bone health rising

HEALTHY Bones Australia has released a new report, Osteoporosis and Fractures in Australia: A Burden of Disease Analysis 2023-2033, revealing that 6.2 million Australians aged 50 and over are living with poor bone health.

Launched yesterday at Parliament House, and ahead of World Osteoporosis Day (20 Oct), the report highlights a 34% increase in bone health issues since 2012, projecting this number to rise to 7.7 million by 2033.

Key findings show that in 2023, a fracture occurred every 2.7 minutes, totalling over 193,000 fractures, with associated costs reaching $4.8 billion.

By 2033, fractures are expected to rise by 34%, costing an estimated $8.3 billion annually.

Healthy Bones Australia Chair, Prof Peter Ebeling, called for urgent action, and said, "if current strategies remain unchanged, the total cost of osteopenia and osteoporosis will reach $67.9 billion over the next decade".

Sally Pearson, Olympic gold medallist and Healthy Bones Australia's Ambassador, has urged people to complete the Know Your Bones self-assessment survey, noting that over 115,000 individuals have already participated.

Healthy Bones Australia CEO, Greg Lyubomirsky (pictured), emphasised the need for stronger governmental support to reach at-risk populations, adding, "we must break down the walls of apathy and ensure doctors prioritise bone health".

The organisation calls for increased screening and early intervention to reduce fractures and improve quality of life for those at risk.

"A cumulative effort will result in substantially less broken bones, enabling Australians to lead longer, healthier, and better quality lives," Lyubomirsky said.

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, in partnership with Healthy Bones Australia, released guidelines for the management of osteoporosis, to provide clear, evidence-based recommendations to support healthcare professionals managing patients aged 50 living with poor bone health - for more information, CLICK HERE. JG