Abstract
Osteoporosis in men is becoming an increasingly important public health problem. One in three hip fractures occurs in men, one in five men over the age of 50 years will suffer an osteoporotic fracture during their lifetime, and men who sustain fractures have an increased mortality risk.
Osteoporosis in men is a heterogeneous clinical entity and secondary causes of osteoporosis also play a significant role in the pathogenesis. Treatment consists both of non-pharmacological (lifestyle modification to promote regular physical activity that increases bone formation while reducing the risk of falls, calcium and vitamin D supplementation when the recommended dietary allowances are not met, and fall prevention) and pharmacological (antiresorptive and bone anabolic therapies) approaches.
Criteria for diagnosing and managing osteoporosis in men need to be set out.