Abstract
Osteoporosis is the most common metabolic bone disease whose prevalence increases with age and is connected with significantly increased fracture risk. Osteoporosis is severly under-diagnosed and it is associated with higher morbidity, mortality and economic costs.
The definition of osteoporosis is based on densitometry finding (T-score LESS-THAN OR EQUAL TO - 2,5) and/or the occurrence of a low-trauma (osteoporotic) fracture. The diagnosis of osteoporosis, however, cannot be set based on the fulfilling of this definition - it is the diagnosis per exclusionem.
It is necessary to exclude other relatively common metabolic bone diseases since their treatment differs from the treatment of osteoporosis. Therapy of osteoporosis is based on lifestyle changes, substitution of calcium and vitamin D and antiosteoporotic medication (in the first line bisphosphonates or denosumab).
Good adherence with the treatment decreases the fracture risk up to 50%.
