1 in 5 Koreans is a 'Silent Bone Thief' Osteoporosis Patient

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced on the 19th, ahead of World Osteoporosis Day (the 20th), that it has revised the "10 Lifestyle Rules for Osteoporosis Prevention and Management" and urged the public to practice daily measures for osteoporosis prevention and management, including adequate nutrition intake, physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, and undergoing screenings.

Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by weakened bone strength, making bones more prone to fractures. According to the KDCA, the prevalence of osteoporosis among those aged 50 and older is 22.5%, meaning one in five Koreans has osteoporosis. The prevalence in women is 37.5%, which is five times higher than in men (7.5%). In particular, 68.7% of women aged 70 and above are affected.

Osteoporosis is often called the "silent bone thief." Although there are no early symptoms, osteoporosis increases the risk of complications such as fractures in the hip, spine, and wrist. When a hip fracture occurs, 21% of men and 15% of women die within one year, making proper prevention and management crucial. Furthermore, fractures in old age can lead to secondary diseases such as cardiovascular disease, pneumonia, and sepsis, which can result in acute death. Studies also show that 50% of fracture patients have difficulty walking or moving as before and cannot live independently.

With the rapid aging of the population, the number of osteoporosis patients continues to rise. The number of patients treated for osteoporosis increased by 24.6%, from 910,000 in 2017 to 1.14 million in 2021.

The revised osteoporosis prevention and management guidelines were developed in collaboration with six professional societies and consist of a total of 10 items. ▲They emphasize lifelong management by reflecting practices from growth periods through old age, and ▲include maintaining appropriate weight, nutrition and physical activity important for osteoporosis prevention and management, diagnostic testing for high-risk groups, and continuous management. Director Ji Young-mi of the KDCA stated, "As osteoporosis is rapidly increasing due to aging and can lead to life-threatening fractures, we urge the public to follow the revised osteoporosis prevention and management guidelines to establish healthy lifestyle habits and join in preventing and managing osteoporosis."

1. Prepare for rapid bone loss starting in your 50s through proper exercise and nutrition management during growth periods.
2. Maintain an appropriate weight to avoid being underweight.
3. Consume adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D.
4. Avoid or limit alcohol, coffee, and carbonated drinks to moderate amounts.
5. Do not smoke.
6. Perform weight-bearing and balance exercises daily whenever possible.
7. If you have risk factors, regularly undergo bone density tests and discuss the results with your doctor.
8. Consistently manage osteoporosis.
9. Be cautious to avoid falls and improve living environments prone to falling.
10. Prevent muscle loss in old age.

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