ONE in three Arab men over the age of 65 suffer from the bone disease osteoporosis, a UAE study has found.

The research was carried out by Dr Haider M Al Attia, a consultant for internal medicine and rheumatology at Al Noor Hospital in Abu Dhabi.

He tested the density of the femur bone in 140 predominantly Arab male patients aged 55 years and over.

The men were all attending hospital for the treatment of other.   

The tests found that between 22 per cent of men aged 55 plus, and 34 per cent of those over the age of 64.5 years, were suffering from the bone condition, which increases the risk of bone fracture and the likelihood of disability and death.

His data was presented at the 5th Pan-Arab Osteoporosis Congress in Damascus on Thursday. 

The findings indicate that a significant number of the overall male Arab population in the UAE could be suffering from osteoporosis. 

“Osteoporosis is a hidden disease in men, but from my own study you can see that the condition could be affecting a significant number of older Arab males in the UAE. The majority of these men will not even know they have the disease and may already have fractures that can lead to serious disability, and an increased risk of death,” Al Attia said.   

He added: “Despite osteoporosis being more common in women, our study highlights the fact that if you are a male with osteoporosis you are as likely to suffer from a fragility fracture as a female patient.

“Early diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis is essential, because after one fracture there is a five to ten-fold increase in the risk of suffering a second fracture within one year, and a two-fold increase in risk of hip fracture, with a resulting rise in the chance of suffering from disability and death.

“Doctors in the UAE have all kinds of medications within accessible reach which they can use to treat osteoporosis, and men should be benefitting from these treatments, as well as women.

“Osteoporosis should always be investigated when caring for elderly patients, and it is vital that health providers and health educators in the UAE start to raise awareness of this debilitating disease among men.”

The development of osteoporosis in men is primarily associated with age and genetic pre-disposition to the disease.

However, there are a number of other factors which increase the risk, including treatment with glucocorticoid steroids, anticonvulsants, Vitamin D deficiency, chronic liver and kidney disease, smoking, excess alcohol intake, low levels of androgens, such as testosterone, and low levels of oestrogen.   

Bisphosphonates are the main form of treatment for osteoporosis in men and women. They are taken weekly or monthly orally, or via an infusion that only has to be administered once a year, which can help improve medication compliance.
The 5th Pan-Arab Osteoporosis Congress finished today.