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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #201792
Title: Incidence and economic burden of osteoporotic fractures in the United States, 2005-2025

Author
item BURGE, RUSSEL - PROCTER GAMBLE PHARMACEUT
item Dawson-Hughes, Bess
item SOLOMON, DANIEL - BRINGHAM & WOMEN'S
item WONG, JOHN - TUFTS-NEMC
item KING, ALISON - PROCTER GAMBLE PHARMACEUT
item TOSTESON, ANNA - DARTMOUTH MED SCH

Submitted to: Journal of Bone and Mineral Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/26/2006
Publication Date: 12/4/2006
Citation: Burge, R., Dawson-Hughes, B., Solomon, D.H., Wong, J.B., King, A., Tosteson, A. 2006. Incidence and economic burden of osteoporotic fractures in the United States, 2005-2025. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. 22(3):465-475.

Interpretive Summary: The aging of the US population will likely lead to greater prevalence of osteoporosis. In order to effectively target osteoporosis and treatment programs, policy makers need accurate projections of the disease burden across a spectrum of demographic subgroups. This study estimated the total incident fractures for the US population aged 50 and older from 2005-2025 to determine the direct medical cost in US dollars of fracture related incidents. Variables such as age, sex, race/ethnicity and skeletal site of fracture were all considered. This study's findings show that by 2025, annual fractures and costs are projected to rise by nearly 50% making additional osteoporosis prevention, treatment and education efforts that address all skeletal sites, not just hip and vertebral, a necessity. Given that men will account for 29% of fractures and 25% of costs, and that the Hispanic and Other subpopulations will experience the greatest increase in risk for fracture, attention to these groups should not be overlooked.

Technical Abstract: The aging of the US population will likely lead to greater prevalence of osteoporosis. Policy makers require precise projections of the disease burden by demographic subgroups and skeletal sites to effectively target osteoporosis intervention and treatment programs. Using a State transition Markov decision model, this study estimated the total incident fractures by age, sex, race/ethnicity and skeletal site for the US population aged 50 and older from 2005–2025 to determine the direct medical cost in US dollars during that given time period. Over 2 million incident fractures at a cost of $17 billion are predicted for 2005 with total costs including prevalent fractures reaching above $19 billion. Men account for 29% of fractures and 25% of costs. Total incident fractures by skeletal site were: vertebral (27%), wrist (19%), hip (14%), pelvic (7%), and other (33%). Total costs by fracture type were: vertebral (6%), hip (72%), wrist (3%), pelvic (5%), and other (14%). By 2025, annual fractures and costs are projected to rise by almost 50%. The most rapid growth is estimated for people aged 65-74, with increases of over 87%, and an increase of nearly 175% projected for Hispanic and Other subpopulations. This study's findings support additional osteoporosis prevention, treatment and education efforts that address all skeletal sites, not just hip and vertebral, with appropriate attention given to men and diverse race/ethnicity subgroups.