[Epidemiology of osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures]. / Epidemiologija osteoporoze i osteoporoticnih prijeloma.

ABSTRACT

Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by "weak" bones. It is a great public health problem, affecting hundreds of millions of people worldwide, predominantly postmenopausal women. The main clinical outcome of the disease is bone fracture. Hip and spine fractures are the most serious fractures associated with pain, disability, and even death. Osteoporosis imposes a significant burden on both the individual and society. In this article epidemiology of osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures in Croatia and the world are presented.