Abstract
Although no accurate statistics are available, there seems to be about 300, 000 bedridden elderly patients, presenting with a serious problem on the nation's health and medical economy. Osteoporosis is the second largest cause for the bedridden state, especially through its major complications such as hip fracture. Effective prevention and treament of osteoporosis therefore is the first step in the prevention of the bedridden state. Screening of the population with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and ultrasonometry is quite important in detecting early osteoporosis. Sufficient calcium intake and adequate exercise increases peak bone mass and slows down the postmenopausal and senile bone loss. For the treatment of established osteoporosis, calcium, estrogen, calcitonin, active forms of vitamin D and ipriflavone are available. Combined use of these drugs will assure satis-factory therapeutic response in most of the patients with osteoporosis at any stage of the disease.
