A fracture every 30 seconds: Bone health laid bare

Healthy Bones Australia has launched its latest burden of disease analysis for the decade ahead, with costs expected to blow out in the billions of dollars and concerning projections of fractures every 30 seconds.
 
Politicians, patients and doctors met on Thursday at Parliament House in Canberra to unveil the findings of the ‘Osteoporosis and fractures in Australia: A burden of disease analysis 2023–33’ report.
 
The peak body now hopes it can use the findings to trigger the Federal Government to support more preventive measures.
 
Among its key findings, the report found that 67% of Australians, or 6.2 million people, aged over 50 are now living with poor bone health – a 34% increase from the 2012 report.
 
It also found the total cost of osteopenia and osteoporosis equated to $4.8 billion in 2023 and is estimated to climb over the coming decade to $8.3 billion in 2033.
 
According to Healthy Bones Australia Chair Professor Peter Ebeling, the report reinforces the urgent need for action from policy makers, healthcare professionals and the community.
 
‘Currently, more than two-in-three Australians over 50 years of age are living with poor bone health; 77% of whom have osteopenia; and 23% osteoporosis – figures projected to increase by 23% over the next 10 years,’ he said.
 
‘Moreover, a staggering 2.1 million fractures due to osteoporosis are estimated to occur over the next decade – representing one fracture every 30 seconds by 2033.’
 
Professor Ebeling said if the current management strategies remain on the same trajectory over the next decade, the total cost of osteopenia and osteoporosis will reach an estimated $67.9 billion.
 
‘While extremely concerning, this situation can be prevented if we take action now, by investing in our population’s bone health,’ he said.
 
Healthy Bones Australia Medical Director and National Osteoporosis Guideline Review Committee Chair, Professor Peter Wong, told newsGP the analysis provides a good estimate of the scope of the problem.
 
‘We’re using that to call for more funding from the Government and more support,’ he said.
 
‘But also, it highlights to everyone, including GPs, what an enormous public health burden this is.
 
‘Because GPs are very much experts in dealing with chronic disease and at the coalface of medical care in Australia, they need to be aware about osteoporosis.’
 
Professor Wong said although GPs have ‘a really tough job’, there is always room for more to be done.
 
‘Every healthcare professional who deals with people with poor bone health needs to be aware of this,’ he said.
 
‘We need earlier investigation of bone health through bone mineral density testing, and greater emphasis on medical and lifestyle interventions, to reduce the impact of preventable fractures.
 
‘Healthy Bones Australia is urging GPs to identify at-risk patients, and to intervene as early as possible, to manage osteoporosis and prevent fractures.’
 
The RACGP, in partnership with Healthy Bones Australia, updated the national guidelines for management of osteoporosis for GPs this year.
 
‘The field has changed, so new drugs are now on the scene, and we’ve revised on that,’ Professor Wong said.
 
‘It’s a very up-to-date, GP user-friendly guide to leverage and I would encourage GPs use that as a resource.’
 
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bone health fracture risk osteopenia osteoporosis preventive health