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Healthy Bones

27 Nov 2024

Healthy Bones Australia is teaming with an Olympian, doctors, politicians, and patients, to launch key findings from their national burden of disease report, together with the Parliamentary Friends of Pain Management, at Parliament House, Canberra.

The new report – Osteoporosis and fractures in Australia. A burden of disease analysis 2023 – 2033 reveals:

  • 6.2 million (67 per cent) Australians aged 50+ years are living with poor bone health – a marked 34 per cent increase from 2012 report, and projected to increase to 7.7 million living with osteopenia or osteoporosis by 2033.
  • In 2023, a fracture was sustained every 2.7 minutes in Australia, resulting in more than 193,000 fractures.
  • The total cost of osteopenia and osteoporosis equated to $4.8 billion in 2023 and is estimated to climb over the coming decade to $8.3 billion in 2033.
  • Fractures represent the highest cost associated with osteoporosis and osteopenia.

According to Healthy Bones Australia Chair, Peter Ebeling, the new burden of disease report offers concerning future projections, while reinforcing the urgent need for action from policy makers, healthcare professionals, and the community alike.

“Currently, more than two-in-three Australians over 50 years of age are living with poor bone health; 77 per cent of whom have osteopenia; and 23 per cent osteoporosis – figures projected to increase by 23 per cent over the next 10 years.

“Moreover, a staggering 2.1 million fractures due to osteoporosis are estimated to occur over the next decade – representing one fracture every 30 seconds by 2033,” said Ebeling.

“While extremely concerning, this situation can be prevented if we take action now, by investing in our population’s bone health.”

Olympian and World Champion athlete and Healthy Bones Australia ‘Know Your Bones’ Ambassador, Sally Pearson, said the new report highlights the need for community understanding of their fracture risk. 

“As Ambassador for the organisation’s flagship prevention and awareness program, ‘Know Your Bones,’ I’m delighted to advise more than 115,000 Australians have completed the Know Your Bones risk assessment to date. Based on today’s report, we hope to see these numbers grow.” 

“I encourage every Australian to take an easy first step and complete this online self-assessment,” said Pearson.

Healthy Bones Australia CEO, Greg Lyubomirsky, said the new report demonstrates the under-prioritisation of bone health in Australia.

“To stop unwanted fractures, we must break down the walls of apathy, and ensure doctors prioritise their patients bone health. 

“A cumulative effort will result in substantially less broken bones, enabling Australians to lead longer, healthier, and better quality lives,” said Lyubomirsky. 

Healthy Bones Australia Medical Director, and Chair of the organisation’s Scientific Advisory Committee, Peter Wong, said “the report begs the question as to why so many fractures are still occurring in Australia each year, and why medical professionals are failing to proactively investigate patients.”

“We need earlier investigation of bone health through bone mineral density (BMD) testing, and greater emphasis on medical and lifestyle interventions, to reduce the impact of preventable fractures,” said Wong. 

In 2024 The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) in partnership with Healthy Bones Australia, released the Guidelines for the Management of Osteoporosis, to provide clear, evidence-based recommendations to support Australian GPs with managing patients aged 50+ living with poor bone health. The Guidelines aim to support clinical judgment-making for individual patients, not to replace it, and to help busy GPs achieve better patient outcomes. 

Burden of disease report co-author, and Head of School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Jennifer Watts, said the burden of osteoporosis is substantial, and will continue to increase with our ageing population. 

“There is an opportunity to prioritise the prevention of osteoporosis via the promotion of healthy diet and exercise as people age; regular bone health checks performed by GPs; early diagnosis of osteopenia through bone density testing; and initiation, and support for treatment of people at risk of osteoporosis or fracture,” said Watts.

For more information contact Healthy Bones Australia on 02 9518 8140 or healthybonesaustralia.org.au/. Our free helpline is 1800 242 141.