54.4% of people over 50 years of age suffer from osteopenia and 10.7% from osteoporosis.

According to the latest study on the epidemiology of osteoporosis in the Spanish population, carried out by the Spanish Society of Rheumatology, it does not stop increasing. The numbers speak for themselves: 54.4 percent of people over 50 in Spain suffer from osteopenia, and 10.7 percent from osteoporosis.

54.4% of people over 50 years of age in Spain suffer from osteopenia, and 10.7% from osteoporosis. These figures are reflected in the latest study of the Spanish Society of Rheumatology (SER) on the epidemiology of osteoporosis in the population, known as the OsteoSER project. When compared by day and fracture, 782 fragility fractures occur in the population every day in Spain, a figure that contrasts with the 36% of these people who receive treatment for osteoporosis only.

By gender, the OsteoSER project confirms that osteoporosis is much more common among women (18.6%) than among men (2.6%).

When looking at the profile with the highest risk of fractures, among women aged 65 years and older, 24.9 percent have osteoporosis. If data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE) is taken into account, the absolute number rises to 1,300,021 Spanish women at high risk of fractures. Among the reasons, experts say factors that are harmful to bones, such as a sedentary lifestyle, less sun exposure or less consumption of dairy products.

In order to increase knowledge about this pathology, the Spanish Society of Rheumatology, through its foundation, is launching the campaign “Mad About My Bones” to highlight the importance of acquiring healthy habits to prevent osteoporosis, such as exercise, a diet that includes adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D, quitting smoking and drinking too much alcohol, among other factors.