The majority of hospitals in Ireland do not have the facilities or equipment to effectively screen for osteoporosis, which means that most people are never offered screening after suffering a fracture, the Irish Osteoporosis Society has said.

Osteoporosis is a condition which causes bones to lose density and become fragile. As a result, they can break easily with low impact, such as through a minor bump or fall.

Currently in Ireland, an estimated 300,000 people are affected. Overall, one in two women and one in four men over the age of 50 will experience a fracture due to osteoporosis in their lifetime. The disease can also affect children.

A new survey carried out to mark World Osteoporosis Day earlier this month found that bone health is a concern for many adults coming into the winter months.

The survey found that 24% of people who have someone over the age of 65 in their lives are highly concerned about that person falling and suffering a bone fracture this winter, while 23% know a person over the age of 65 who has suffered such a fracture.

It also found that the majority of adults do not know what a fragility fracture is. A fragility fracture is any fall from a standing height or less, that results in a fracture. Our bodies should be able to sustain a fall from this height without a fracture unless there is an underlying cause that makes the bones fragile.

The most common areas on the body affected by fragility fracture include the hip and wrist.

The society explained that often, the first indication that someone has osteoporosis is when they suffer a fracture. In 2014, over 12,000 people were hospitalised for osteoporosis-related bone fractures and this is expected to increase to 31,000 by 2046.

However, 80% of people are never offered osteoporosis screening in hospitals after a fracture, due to a lack of equipment and facilities. An effective fracture liaison service reduces the relative risk of re-fracture by up to 40%. However currently, fracture liaison services are only available in four of Ireland's 16 major trauma hospitals.

The society, supported by Amgen, has launched an online risk check tool for members of the public to assess their risk of osteoporosis and fractures. This free tool was originally developed by the International Osteoporosis Foundation and its aims to help those most at risk to take steps to address this.

"In 2018 alone, there were 3,608 hip fractures recorded in Ireland. Osteoporosis is a seriously debilitating disease that impacts the whole family when a loved one is affected.

"However, the good news is that osteoporosis can be prevented and treated, which is why we are encouraging everyone to take the online risk check and discuss the results with their friends, family and GP," commented the society's president, Prof Moira O'Brien.

The free online risk check, which consists of just eight questions, can be completed at http://riskcheck.iofbonehealth.org.

For more information on osteoporosis, click here.