The Epidemiology of Osteoporosis in Korea

摘要

It has been well documented that decreased bone mineral density (BMD) is clsoely related to osteoporosis and fracture of the bone. Osteoporosis is one of the most prevalent senile disease and results a significant economic, social, and psychological burden as well as major public health problem for the elderly(1). Despite its deleterious effect on women's health, knowledge of the epidemiology of osteoporosis in Korea is only beginning to accumulate in most recent years. Furthermore, because of nation's sudden economic growth and advancement of both medical system, technology, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis, the clinical aspects of the disease exceed epidemiological understanding of osteoporosis. Sequel to this phenomena, osteoporosis is often misunderstood by the publci and some clinicians in Korea. Consequently, prevention and intervention of osteoporosis has been hampered by the lack of epidemiological information.