And®ew
08-30-2003, 04:26 PM
Although four times as many women get osteoporosis as men, men can develop an extreme form of the
condition, which can lead to them losing several inches in height.
Now Dr Alison Stewart, who is based at the University of Aberdeen's Osteoporosis Research Unit at
Woolmanhill Hospital, has been awarded a three-year £80,000 research fellowship by the Arthritis
Research Campaign (arc) to compare the differences between male and female sufferers of
osteoporosis. She wants to find out if men need to be given more advice on how to prevent the
condition, and if they need different treatment to women.
As part of the newly set up Fracture Liaison Service in the city, all men and women over the age of
50 who attend the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary with a fracture will automatically referred for DEXA and
ultrasound scans to check the density of their bones. Results of scans will then be to sent to the
patient's GP, and they will be given the opportunity to be seen by nurses, or attend the
rheumatology clinic in Aberdeen.
Dr Stewart will compare risk factors and bone density between men and men, and also compare take-up
rates of hospitals appointments and treatment offered between the genders. If there is a difference
in bone density, clinical practice could be altered to enable doctors to prevent osteoporosis in men
in a different way than is used for women.
"We suspect that men will not go for their scans because we don’t think they're aware that
osteoporosis is a condition that affects them," explained Dr Stewart. "Women are bombarded with
information about HRT and the menopause in magazines, but men don’t think much about it.
"We want to know if it’s going to be cost effective to target men because if they don’t turn up for
their appointment in sufficient numbers it won’t be worth doing."
There are no specific guidelines for the treatment of osteoporosis in men, who take the same drugs
to control the condition as women. However, while women develop thin bones after the menopause due
to hormonal changes, men develop osteoporosis for different reasons. Alcoholism and a hormonal
condition called hyper gonadism are both risk factors.
Men can develop a form of the condition called spinal osteoporosis, which can lead to spinal
fractures, and height loss of several inches.
condition, which can lead to them losing several inches in height.
Now Dr Alison Stewart, who is based at the University of Aberdeen's Osteoporosis Research Unit at
Woolmanhill Hospital, has been awarded a three-year £80,000 research fellowship by the Arthritis
Research Campaign (arc) to compare the differences between male and female sufferers of
osteoporosis. She wants to find out if men need to be given more advice on how to prevent the
condition, and if they need different treatment to women.
As part of the newly set up Fracture Liaison Service in the city, all men and women over the age of
50 who attend the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary with a fracture will automatically referred for DEXA and
ultrasound scans to check the density of their bones. Results of scans will then be to sent to the
patient's GP, and they will be given the opportunity to be seen by nurses, or attend the
rheumatology clinic in Aberdeen.
Dr Stewart will compare risk factors and bone density between men and men, and also compare take-up
rates of hospitals appointments and treatment offered between the genders. If there is a difference
in bone density, clinical practice could be altered to enable doctors to prevent osteoporosis in men
in a different way than is used for women.
"We suspect that men will not go for their scans because we don’t think they're aware that
osteoporosis is a condition that affects them," explained Dr Stewart. "Women are bombarded with
information about HRT and the menopause in magazines, but men don’t think much about it.
"We want to know if it’s going to be cost effective to target men because if they don’t turn up for
their appointment in sufficient numbers it won’t be worth doing."
There are no specific guidelines for the treatment of osteoporosis in men, who take the same drugs
to control the condition as women. However, while women develop thin bones after the menopause due
to hormonal changes, men develop osteoporosis for different reasons. Alcoholism and a hormonal
condition called hyper gonadism are both risk factors.
Men can develop a form of the condition called spinal osteoporosis, which can lead to spinal
fractures, and height loss of several inches.