Osteoporosis: a growing epidemic.

The osteoporosis epidemic will continue unabated unless the issue of prevention of bone loss is seriously addressed. While a continuing programme of education for both the medical profession and the general public is necessary, positive action is required. Women lose bone at an accelerated rate following the menopause and this seems to be the optimal time for intervention. Those women who enter the menopause with the lowest bone density are at greatest risk of subsequent fracture. An individual's bone density can be accurately measured and those women who have the lowest bone density should have hormone replacement therapy (HRT) recommended, but it is important to discuss fully the possible benefits and risks. It is probable that non-hormonal agents for prevention of bone loss will be available in the near future, and cyclical diphosphonate therapy appears particularly promising. However, at the present time, long-term HRT is the mainstay for the prevention of bone loss.