Women are at a higher risk of osteoporosis-associated fractures but still most of them are unaware of this condition, according to a serious international public health concern that was raised by researchers after results from the Global Longitudinal Study of Osteoporosis in Women (GLOW).

The study also suggested that there is a big failure on the part of women and medical world in perceiving the implications of having important risk factors.

From Sciencedaily.com:

Improved education of both physicians and postmenopausal women about osteoporosis risk factors is urgently needed, according to the study authors. Osteoporosis causes bones to become fragile and therefore more likely to break. If left untreated, the disease can progress painlessly until a fracture occurs. Several risk factors for fractures have been identified and should be considered by physicians treating women age 55 and over:

* older age

* low weight

* parental hip fracture

* personal history of fracture (clavicle, arm, wrist, spine, rib, hip, pelvis, upper leg, lower leg, ankle) since age 45

* two or more falls in the past year

* current use of cortisone or prednisone (steroids often prescribed for a number of medical conditions)

* rheumatoid arthritis

* cigarette smoking

* consumption of three or more alcoholic beverages daily.

GLOW is supported by a grant from The Alliance for Better Bone Health (formerly sanofi-aventis and P&G Pharmaceuticals, now sanofi-aventis and Warner Chilcott) and is being directed by The Center for Outcomes Research, University of Massachusetts Medical School.