'Silent Bone Thief' Osteoporosis Patients Up 24% in 5 Years... Majority Are Female Patients

Osteoporosis stock photo.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] The number of osteoporosis patients has surged over the past five years. The majority of patients are women, and special caution is needed from the 50s onward when menopause occurs.

The National Health Insurance Service announced on the 9th the status of health insurance treatment for 'osteoporosis' from 2017 to 2021 using health insurance treatment data. The number of patients increased by 24.6%, from 913,852 in 2017 to 1,138,840 in 2021, with an average annual growth rate of 5.7%.

By gender, female patients overwhelmingly outnumbered males. As of 2021, there were 65,635 men and 1,073,205 women. This means that more than 9 out of 10 osteoporosis patients are women. Professor Shin Sung-jae of the Department of Endocrinology at National Health Insurance Ilsan Hospital explained, "Women experience menopause in their late 40s to early 50s, leading to a deficiency in the sex hormone estrogen. Estrogen has an inhibitory effect on osteoclasts, which cause bone resorption," adding, "As menopause occurs, bone resorption increases by about 90% due to fluctuations in estrogen levels, while bone formation increases by only about 45%, causing an imbalance that leads to bone loss and makes women more vulnerable to osteoporosis."

By age group, the largest number of patients was in their 60s with 421,320 (36.9%), followed by those in their 70s with 341,940 (30.0%), and those in their 50s with 182,143 (16.0%). Additionally, the total health insurance medical expenses for osteoporosis patients increased by 51.9%, from 215.2 billion KRW in 2017 to 326.8 billion KRW in 2021. The average medical expense per patient was 287,000 KRW.

Osteoporosis refers to a condition where bone strength weakens, making fractures more likely. In severe cases, bones can break from minor impacts such as a light fall, sneezing, or bumping into furniture. In most cases, there are no specific symptoms initially, and osteoporosis is often first diagnosed after a bone fracture or a visit to the hospital for a bone density test due to a stooped back. For this reason, it is sometimes called the "silent bone thief."

To prevent osteoporosis, it is important to consume sufficient calcium and maintain appropriate blood vitamin D levels. The Korean Society for Bone and Mineral Metabolism recommends a daily calcium intake of 800?1000 mg and vitamin D intake of at least 800 IU. Maintaining a healthy nutritional status is also important for preventing osteoporosis, and it is advisable to consume enough vegetables and fruits for adequate protein, vitamin, and mineral intake. Instant foods, alcohol, smoking, carbonated drinks, and coffee are not recommended as they can cause bone loss. Regular and appropriate exercise helps increase bone density and strengthen bones.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.