Epidemiologic studies on bone mineral density and fractures

Osteoporosis is currently defined as a systemic skeletal disease characterized by low bone mass and microarchitectnral deterioration of bone tissue, with a consequent increase in bone fragility and susceptibility to fracture. The burden of fractures is substantial, both in terms of individual and public health. The most serious fracture, i.e. hip fracture, is associated with a high mortality rate of approximately 25 % within one year and a considerable decline of physical and social functions. Hip fracture is not a rare event. On average, the lifetime risk of a hip fracture for a 50 year old woman is approximately 16 % 4. The total number of incident hip fractures in the Netherlands was 10360 in 1987 and it is expected that, partly as a consequence of aging of the population, this number will have exceeded 20000 by the year of 2010. The general aim of the thesis is to study determinants of bone density and consequences of vertebral fractures or deformities.