Menopause and bone health; a growing global health concern
For immediate release
- Worldwide more than 200 million women are estimated to have osteoporosis and 1 in 3 women over age 50 will experience osteoporosis fractures.
- Poor bone health is increasing as populations age.
- The International Menopause Society has published a new report to highlight concerns on World Menopause Day.
The International Menopause Society (IMS) has published a new report for World Menopause Day which shows that one of the most important emerging health issues for midlife women is bone health.
The ‘Update on bone health’ report, carried out by world-leading experts in the field of menopausal health, highlights the growing issue of poor bone health in menopausal and post-menopausal women.
Particular issues identified in the report are osteoporosis, sarcopenia and osteosarcopenia. These conditions are especially prevalent in women.[1]
Most women will go through the menopause between the ages of 45 and 55 and they will often lose bone rapidly during this time. Worldwide more than 200 million women are estimated to have osteoporosis and, as populations continue to age, the problem is getting worse. [2] The IMS report highlights that the condition represents a major global health problem and fractures associated with osteoporosis reduce quality of life and increase the chances of disability and premature death.[3]
After a woman’s last menstrual period, their ovaries stop the production of the hormone oestrogen, this leads to decreased bone strength. Osteoporosis develops slowly and is diagnosed when bone health deteriorates to such an extent that small impacts are likely to cause them to fracture. Worldwide, 1 in 3 women over age 50 will experience osteoporosis fractures.[4]
Risk factors for osteoporosis include a recent fracture or a family history of hip fracture, low body mass index, rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, early menopause, smoking, abuse of alcohol and a sedentary lifestyle.
Sarcopenia is a newer concept that incorporates the inevitable loss of muscle mass, muscle strength and performance as people age. IMS researchers highlight that the role of muscle strength and function in maintaining bone health should not be overlooked and that when sarcopenia exists as well as osteoporosis (Osteosarcopenia) the risk of bone fractures is greatly increased.
Steven R. Goldstein, MD, professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, President of the International Menopause Society and co-author of the ‘Update on bone health’ report said:
“Bone health is a crucial issue for midlife women.
“It’s fantastic that life expectancy continues to grow across the world but it does mean that the amount of people suffering from osteoporosis and/or sarcopenia is also increasing. This can significantly affect their day to day functioning, quality of life and ability to live independently.
“Worldwide, osteoporosis causes more than 8.9 million fractures annually. The implications of this are extremely serious, sadly 21% of women who fracture their hip will die within one year.
“In addition, poor bone health places a huge burden on health and social care systems globally.”
Tobie de Villiers, consultant gynecologist associated with Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa and co-author of the ‘Update on bone health’ report added:
“Osteoporosis is often referred to as a “silent disease”. Previously, it was only diagnosed when a fracture occurred, but we can now make predictions using the presence of risk factors and women should be helped by health services to make lifestyle changes or discuss the need for specific medication to restore bone strength.
“Health care practitioners should also acknowledge the increased fracture risk associated with osteosarcopenia so that diagnosis and treatment becomes part of routine health care for post-menopausal women.”
The IMS advises women to maintain healthy bones by increasing their dietary intake of calcium, vitamin D and protein, using exercise (especially weight-bearing, balance exercises and strength training) to maintain muscle mass, avoiding smoking and limiting alcohol. Avoiding fractures is also very important as both women and men get older. For some women, hormone replacement therapy in menopause can also be very effective in maintaining bone health.
The report is available on the IMS website alongside advice for women who may be suffering from poor bone health.
ENDS
#WorldMenopauseDay
#WorldMenopauseDay2021
[1] https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/osteoporosis/
[3] Hip fractures cause the most morbidity with reported mortality rates up to 20-24% in the first year after a hip fracture [36][37], and greater risk of dying may persist for at least 5 years afterwards: https://www.osteoporosis.foundation/facts-statistics/epidemiology-of-osteoporosis-and-fragility-fractures
Notes to editors:
For further information contact Louise Akers: louise.akers@campaigncollective.org +44 7712273928
About the International Menopause Society
A Charitable Incorporated Organisation based in the UK, The International Menopause Society (IMS) brings together the world’s leading experts to collaboratively study and share knowledge about all aspects of aging in women. The IMS advocates evidence-based treatment options that optimise midlife women’s health and promotes best practice in women’s health care to healthcare professionals and women across the globe. IMS activities include:
- building communities of practice through its membership and Council of Affiliated Societies;
- publishing original research, reviews, statements and recommendations;
- holding events to disseminate information including the bi-annual World Congress on Menopause, symposia and workshops
- offering online practitioner training resources
- the annual World Menopause Day awareness raising campaign
- imsociety.org
The International Menopause Society has led on the creation of global resources to improve awareness of the menopause and the lives of middle aged women, including education YouTube videos in multiple languages, A Practitioner Toolkit for Managing Menopause, global consensus statements to advise women and the medical community about effective treatments for menopause symptoms and IMPART– an international education tool for health practitioners.
About World Menopause Day
- World Menopause Day is a worldwide awareness call for women who face health issues when approaching, during and beyond the menopause.
- The day, which was established by the IMS, has been observed since 2009 to show support to women across the globe and to recognise the challenges of menopausal symptoms and related conditions.
- Visit the IMS website for more information.
About Osteoporosis:
- Osteoporosis is a health condition that weakens bones, making them fragile and more likely to break. It develops slowly over several years and is often only diagnosed when a fall or sudden impact causes a bone to break (fracture).
- Bone is living tissue with its own blood and nerve supply. Bones renew themselves constantly and a healthy skeletal structure keeps the body intact. In healthy bone, up to the menopause, the production of new bone happens more than the removal of old bone, but the opposite happens after menopause.
- Osteoporosis affects over 3 million people in the UK.
- More than 500,000 people in the UK receive hospital treatment for fragility fractures (bones that break after falling from standing height or less) every year as a result of osteoporosis. (https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/osteoporosis/)
About Sarcopenia:
- Sarcopenia is a loss of skeletal muscle mass and function.
- It is associated with increased adverse outcomes including falls, functional decline, frailty, and mortality.
- https://academic.oup.com/ageing/article/48/1/16/5126243
About Osteosarcopenia:
- Osteosarcopenia is osteoporosis (or osteopenia) combined with sarcopenia.
- This new syndrome is associated with higher disability and rates of fracture and falls in older people compared with either condition alone.
- p13 IMS white paper: https://www.imsociety.org/education/world-menopause-day/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7296259/
Further support for women experiencing poor bone health:
- The International Osteoporosis Foundation: https://www.osteoporosis.foundation/
- The Royal Osteoporosis Society: https://theros.org.uk/
