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Osteoporosis: An Update for Primary Care Providers
Bones, as reservoirs of calcium and phosphorus, continuously remodel to maintain strength and function. However, suboptimal peak bone mass in young adulthood, excessive resorption of bone, or impaired bone formation during remodeling can result in osteoporosis. Among Caucasian adults ages 50 years and older in the United States, about 50% of women and 20% of men will experience an osteoporotic fracture in their remaining lifetime; however, fracture rates differ by ethnic/racial population and skeletal site. Annual fracture-related costs are expected to increase from $57 billion to more than $95 billion by 2040. Therefore, it is imperative that primary care providers address this challenge by implementing practices to screen patients for osteoporosis to prevent and/or treat the disorder and subsequent comorbidities.