An estimated 30 million America women have osteoporosis or low bone mass, and this number is expected to increase dramatically as the population ages. Each year, approximately 1.5 million fractures are attributed to osteoporosis, with the lifetime risk of fracture increasing with age.

Data from the National Osteoporosis Risk Assessment (NORA) study suggest that a significant number of women in the US have undetected low bone mineral density (BMD). This longitudinal study evaluated more than 200,000 postmenopausal women with no prior osteoporosis diagnosis. Data on these women were retrieved from more than 4000 primary care practices in 34 states. According to the World Health Organization criteria, nearly 40% of NORA participants had low bone mass and 7% had osteoporosis. Increasing age was most highly correlated with low BMD.⁴ In another study, data from the National Ambulatory Care Survey from 1993 to 1997 were analyzed in an effort to find evidence of osteoporosis and to assess primary care physicians' diagnosis of osteoporosis and vertebral fracture and their treatment.⁵ During the 5 years of the study, fewer than 2% of primary care physicians (family physicians, general practitioners, internists, obstetricians and gynecologists) diagnosed osteoporosis or vertebral fracture. Further analysis revealed that appropriate drug therapy was offered to only 36% of patients diagnosed with osteoporosis.