Growing Elderly Populations to Swell Osteoporosis Prevalence in India and China

Thursday 7 February 2013, Amsterdam

The climbing elderly populations of India and China will lead to a surge in the number of prevalent cases of osteoporosis in the following decade, predicts the latest report from research and consulting firm. The company’s new epidemiology report* forecasts that osteoporosis prevalence in China is set to jump from 50.3 million cases in 2012 to 68.4 million cases in 2022, representing an Annual Growth Rate (AGR) of 3.6%. Similarly, India’s prevalent osteoporosis population is expected to climb from 55 million in 2012 to hit 73.8 million a decade later, at an AGR of 3.4%. According to us, the expanding populations of these countries, particularly within the higher age categories, are key contributors to this surge in prevalent cases of osteoporosis – particularly as the age of onset seems to be earlier in these two nations than in many other countries. To date, osteoporosis has not been recognized as a major health burden in China or India. While disease prevention and treatment have improved over the last two decades, public awareness of osteoporosis remains minimal, particularly in rural areas.