AS we celebrate Mother’s Day, it’s a time to honour the incredible women who have shaped our lives with their love, strength, and resilience.
Amid the festivities, it’s also an opportunity to raise awareness about an often-overlooked aspect of women’s health: osteoporosis and its potential complications, including medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ)
Osteoporosis is a common condition characterised by low bone density and deterioration of bone tissue, which leads to an increased risk of fractures, particularly in the spine, hips, and wrists.
The Asian Federation of Osteoporosis Societies study projected that the number of hip fracture cases in Malaysia would increase from 5880 in 2018 to 20893 cases in 2050.
This directly affects the estimated medical cost of hip fractures, which would increase from RM 167.3 million in 2018 to RM594.3 million in 2050, without including the cost of rehabilitation and prolonging nursing care service after injury.
While osteoporosis can affect both men and women, postmenopausal women are at a significantly higher risk due to estrogen hormonal changes that occur during menopause, with a prevalence of 42.4pc compared to 11.1pc in premenopausal women in Malaysia. Exercise is key in reducing the risks of osteoporosis. (Ravi Patel - Unsplash)
For many women, the management of osteoporosis involves non-pharmacological and pharmacological measures.
Non-pharmacological treatments such as adequate weight-bearing exercise, vitamin D, calcium supplements, healthy lifestyle modification and prevention of falls.
For high-risk groups, the use of anti-resorptive medications called bisphosphonates and denosumab is recommended.
These medications help to strengthen bones and reduce the risk of fractures by inhibiting bone resorption.
However, like all medications, they carry potential side effects, one of which is MRONJ—a rare but serious condition characterised by the death of jawbone tissue.
The risk of developing MRONJ might be low among the osteoporosis group (
