Geisinger expert: bone health a growing concern for older men

DANVILLE – Millions more American men will experience painful bone fractures due to osteoporosis in the coming years, and that could lead to long-term, potentially fatal consequences, a Geisinger rheumatologist said.

About two million American men currently have osteoporosis, and by 2020, more than 20 million men will have the disease, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation.

“We need to get more men screened, it’s that simple,” said Geisinger rheumatologist Thomas Olenginski, MD. “A bone break can be devastating for a man, especially if it occurs at a later age.”

On average, men develop osteoporosis about 10 years after women, Dr. Olenginski said.  That means they are suffering bone breaks later in life, when the risk of complication is far greater.

Studies have shown, for instance, that men who experience hip fractures are twice as likely to die within the first year after a break, compared to women.

To address this problem, the American College of Physicians last month called for regular osteoporosis screenings for men starting at age 65. Dr. Olenginski said it’s a positive step.

“We have long recognized this as an issue for women, but it’s time men started thinking about their bone health,” Dr. Olenginski said.

(Editor’s note: click to hear Dr. Olenginski discuss this problem in more depth in a Podcast)

# # # #