Elderly Hongkongers urged to get osteoporosis scans as experts warn of hip fracture surge
Osteoporosis is a disease that weakens bones to the point of fragility and possible fracture
The Osteoporosis Society of Hong Kong, consisting of healthcare professionals from a wide range of disciplines and specialties, on Sunday called on men aged 70 or older, and women aged 65 or above, to undergo scans to measure bone density.
Osteoporosis is a disease that weakens bones to the point of fragility and possible fracture. The most common and serious types are hip fractures, which could take away the person’s ability to care for themselves.
The number of hip fracture cases in the city rose from 6,800 in 2019 to more than 7,500 in 2023, according to Hospital Authority data.
Professor Cheung Ching-lung, president of the society, predicted the figure could exceed 27,000 by 2050, driven by the population’s rapid pace of ageing.