L’ostéoporose : une pathologie insuffisamment traitée chez la personne âgée ?

Osteoporosis is an increase in bone fragility resulting from a decrease in bone mineral density and abnormalities in the bone micro-architecture. The frequency of osteoporosis is increasing with the aging of patients, and its clinical consequences, vertebral or peripheral fractures, are potentially extremely serious, especially in the very elderly. It is probable that osteoporosis is underdiagnosed--and when it is diagnosed it is often not well treated. It should be realised that a loss in bone mineral density is not the only risk factor for osteoporotic fractures: iatrogenic and environmental factors are also involved, and these are responsive to preventive intervention. Although elderly people usually take multiple drugs, drug treatment, initially calcium and vitamin D, but also bisphosphonates, should also be considered for osteoporosis.