Osteoporosis in Men. Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, and Clinical Characterization

Although osteoporosis has long been considered a disease of women, the earliest reports of the epidemiology of fractures associated with osteoporosis clearly showed that the classical age-related increase in fractures seen in women was also evident in men. It has been recognized that the problem of osteoporosis in men represents an important public health issue [1] as well as a huge personal burden for those men affected [2]. It also presents a unique array of scientific challenges and opportunities [3-8]. Here we examine the issue of osteoporosis in men, and compare its pathophysiology and clinical presentation to parallel processes in women.