The latest International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) report provides major insight into how the burden of this physical ailment across the continent has been highly underestimated. It reveals that in 2010 some 2.5 million new fragility fractures emerged in Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Sweden and the United Kingdom alone. The European Union' report investigates two key components of osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures in Europe: epidemiology and health economics.

IOF President John Kanis stated that from the report how the economic burden of fractures has increased in just over a decade. In 2000 the economic burden of fractures for the European Union was estimated at 36 billion euros. The current estimate of 30.7 billion euros for just six countries largely reflects the increased number of fractures due to Europe's ageing population.

The report reveals that fractures contributed to around 34,000 deaths in 2010, with 49% of the cases linked to hip fractures. The 30.7 billion euros cost of healthcare accounted for 3.5% of the total spending on healthcare in Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Pharmacological prevention was included in the cost. Acute management of fracture covered most of the total costs, while pharmacological prevention and treatment accounted for only 4.7% of the costs. The report also highlighted how only a small number of people are treated for the prevention of fractures. In addition, it shows how the cost of dealing with fractures in the six countries tops those for stroke, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis and migraine.

Experts assure the number of fractures will jump 29% to 3.2 million in 2025, and health care costs are estimated to rise to 38.5 billion euros. They believe that implementing better clinical guidelines could help close this 'treatment gap', cut costs and save nearly 700,000 fractures.