The nonskeletal consequences of osteoporotic fractures - Psychologic and social outcomes

Social and psychologic consequences of osteoporosis in postmenopausal white women are common. These consequences include anxiety, depression, social isolation, and social role loss. Few of the known strategies for minimizing the impact of these outcomes are a consistent part of treatment protocols for osteoporosis, and discussions about what the standard care for osteoporosis should be consistently ignore these nonskeletal effects of the disease. It also remains unclear whether these consequences are universal outcomes of osteoporosis - whether men and women of all races and ages with osteoporosis experience the same problems - or relevant only for postmenopausal white women. Additional research can be completed that will define the treat-ment approach to osteoporosis that will result in the most beneficial physical and psychosocial results.