Men’s osteoporosis treatment on PBS

Prolia ” currently available on the PBS for postmenopausal women ” is a twice-a- year injection providing a more convenient treatment method for patients.

North Metropolitan Health Service clinical professor Charles Inderjeeth said a recent survey showed osteoporosis is often unrecognised in men.

‘Over 90 per cent of those surveyed agreed osteoporosis is a serious condition but only about 2 per cent were more concerned about osteoporosis compared to other chronic diseases,’ he said.

According to Osteoporosis Australia and the Australian Bureau of Statistics, about a fifth of the 1.2 million Australians affected are men.

‘The advantage of treating osteoporosis is it reduces the risk of further fractures and reduces their morbidity, meaning their disability and dependence on care, the need for residential care, for support and services,’ Dr Inderjeeth said.

‘So in terms of well-men’s health as well as those who have a high risk we would recommend they see their general practitioner and as part of that assessment include a discussion about their osteoporosis risk and put in strategies to prevent it occurring.’