430K osteoporotic fractures in 2022, a steep rise over 20 yr

Health Insurance Big Data research has shown that women are 3.1 times higher than men to get fractures from osteoporosis.

There has been a yearly increment of 7.8% in patients with fractures due to osteoporosis, marking a staggering 346% increase compared to 20 years ago.

 

Joint research conducted by National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) (Chariman: Jung Ki Suck) and The Korean Society for Bone and Mineral Research (Chariman: Ha Yong-Chan) has presented research findings titled ‘Reporting the incidences of osteoporotic fractures and re-fractures among Koreans over 50 years old,’ based on the National Health Insurance Big Data for the periods of 2002 to 2022.

 

The overall incidence of osteoporotic fracture totaled 434,470 patients in 2022, a 34.2% increase compared to 323,806 patients in 2012, and a 346.2% increase compared to 97,380 patients in 2002.

 

Additionally, it shows a yearly increment of 7.8%.

 

Over the last 20 years, the overall incidence of osteoporotic fractures has steadily increased, with a yearly average rate of 8.1% increase in men and a 7.6% increase in women.

 

A yearly rate of osteoporotic fracture incidences based on the National Health Insurance Big Data for the periods of 2002 to 2022.

 

There has been a yearly increment of 7.8% in patients with fractures due to osteoporosis, marking a staggering 346% increase compared to 20 years ago.

 

When considering gender differences, the prevalence of fracture was 3.1 times higher in women (329,104 people) than men (105,366 people).

 

Among men, 29.1% were in their 60s, while 33.1% of women were in their 80s.

 

(Unit: n, %)

As of 2022, out of a total of 434,470 fracture patients, 31.0% were in their 80s (134,549), 26.3% were in their 70s (114,273), 26.4% were in their 60s (114,886), and 16.3% were in their 50s (70,762), demonstrating a steep increase with advancing age.

 

When considering gender differences, the prevalence of fracture was 3.1 times higher in women (329,104 people) than men (105,366 people).

 

Among men, 29.1% were in their 60s, while 33.1% of women were in their 80s.

 

Wrist and ankle fractures were common in the ages of 50s to 60s, and the number of vertebral and hip joint fractures increased with age.

 

The 1-year mortality rate for patients with hip joint fractures exhibited a decreasing trend from 18.9% in 2006 to 15.9% in 2020 but increased again to 18.2% in 2021.

 

In contrast, the 1-year mortality rates of hip fracture or vertebral fracture remained without any changes over the years up to 2020, but saw an increase in 2021, presumably due to the effects of Covid-19.

 

During the last 20 years, the rate of osteoporotic fracture patients receiving osteoporosis-treating medications within a month is 22.0% in 1 month, 28.9% in 3 months, 32.2% in 6 months, and 35.5% within a year.

 

In terms of medications, the highest prescription rate within a year following a fracture was for bisphosphonate class drugs 30.8%, followed by denosumab 3.3%, Selective estrogen-receptor (ER) modulators (SERMs) 2.9%, parathyroid hormones (PTH) 0.7%, and romosozumab 0.15%.

 

The prescription rate for fracture treatments within a year following a fracture showed a steady increase for both men and women over the years.

 

A 2.5 times higher proportion of women, with a rate of 46.9%, started treatments within a year compared to men, with a rate of 18.7%.

 

In terms of fracture localizations, the highest prescription rate within a year following a fracture was the vertebral fracture with 52%, and the lowest was the ankle fracture with 15%.