Now for some good news. Some of the most popular treatments for osteoporosis will now be available to patients before they have a bone fracture.
From last April, the Federal Government now provides subsidised bone mineral density (BMD) scans under Medicare for seniors aged over 70 to help identify those at increased risk of fracture.
Professor Markus J. Seibel, director of the Bone Research Program at the ANZAC Research Institute in Sydney and Professor of Endocrinology at Concord Hospital and the University of Sydney, said, "The Federal Government should be applauded for making a significant contribution toward improving the health and wellbeing of the many Australians who suffer from osteoporosis.
"This move will make a big difference to the life of many of our patients," Professor Seibel said.
He said fractures resulting from osteoporosis are major causes of injury and long-term disability, and are associated with death in older Australians.
On average, Professor Seibel said one in two women and one in three men over 60 will develop an osteoporotic fracture during their lifetime.
"Research shows those with a first fracture are four times more likely to re-fracture in the following year compared with people who have not had a fracture at all. That is why it is important we make every effort possible to prevent as many fractures as possible in those who are at risk," he said.
"Identifying people with low bone density and initiating appropriate preventative treatment before they suffer a fracture is an important step in controlling the disease, and could significantly reduce the incidence and burden of osteoporotic fractures," Professor Seibel said.

Medications
Some osteoporosis medications have been recommended for reimbursement on the PBS for use in the prevention of osteoporotic fractures in older Australians.
Up till now, subsidised access to these medications had been restricted to people who had already had a broken bone.
This was a bit like waiting till someone had a heart attack before prescribing cholesterol-lowering drugs for them.
Osteoporosis medication risedronate (trade names Actonel and Actonel Combi) has this week been recommended for reimbursement on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for the prevention of osteoporotic fractures for patients aged 70 years or over with a bone density T-score of -3.0 SD or less.
Sanofi-aventis and Proctor & Gamble said they expect Actonel to be made available on the PBS for this indication around August 1 2007.