ABSTRACT
With an ageing population in Singapore, it is anticipated that postmenopausal osteoporosis and related fractures will be an increasingly important health issue in the coming decades. Oestrogen replacement therapy has a long history of use to treat postmenopausal problems including osteoporosis. The availability of other potent agents such as bisphosphonates, calcitonin and selective oestrogen receptor modulators has enriched the therapeutic options. This article reviews the evidence for the choice of appropriate agents, and strategies to prevent and treat postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Singapore has a rapidly ageing population. In 1990, only 6% of the population was above the age of 65 years but this percentage of elderly citizens will rise rapidly to 17% by the year 2030. As Singaporean women achieve longer life expectancy and live a greater portion of their lives in the postmenopausal years, it is anticipated that the problem of postmenopausal osteoporosis and related fractures will rise dramatically.
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