The Economics and Management of Osteoporosis in Postmenopausal Women

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Post menopausal osteoporosis as well as being a major cause of morbidity results in an annual cost of over £1 billion per annum. Until recently the treatment of choice to prevent this disease was postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT). However, for HRT to prevent significant amounts of hip fractures life long use is required. Whilst HRT may be a cost effective treatment for high risk perimenopausal women it is unlikely to be relatively cost effective if given to low risk asymptomatic women. On the other hand treatments such as calcium and the bisphosphonates may be relatively cost effective and even cost saving if carefully targeted at high risk older women.