Impact of Major Bone Diseases

The World Health Organisation has declared this the “Bone & Joint” decade, in recognition of this global health problem and to raise awareness of the significant impact from bone and joint disorders on society, the healthcare system and the individual. Bone disease is already a huge global problem, affecting both males and females.

This problem is growing so significantly because as the ‘baby boomers’ age and as humans live longer they are subject to more degenerative problems in their bones. Most significantly it is estimated that over the course of the next 25 years the population ages 65 and above will more than double worldwide.

Currently approximately 200 million women worldwide suffer from osteoporosis, with an estimated annual cost of drug expenditure in excess of an estimated US$5 billion in 2002.

By 2020 it is estimated that 20% of the US population (60 million Americans) will have arthritis. There are an estimated 103 million people with arthritis and rheumatism across Europe, about 14% of the population. In 2000, arthritis costs in Australia were estimated to total almost $9 billion ($2.2 billion in direct costs and $6.7 billion in indirect costs).

Bone & Joint Disease
Burden of Disease
Current Treatment Paradigm