Spain's osteoporosis care gap leaves 72% of women over 50 untreated after fragility fracture

A recent report finds that 72% of Spanish women aged over 50 who suffer a fragility fracture do not receive follow‑up treatment to strengthen their bones. Osteoporosis, a silent disease affecting roughly one‑quarter of women older than 65, accounts for about 333,000 fragility fractures a year in Spain – roughly 912 daily – and costs the health system around €4.2 billion, roughly 3.8% of the national health budget. The condition is the fourth most impactful chronic disease, leading to loss of independence, especially after hip fractures where, a year later, 40% of patients cannot walk unaided and 80% experience daily activity limitations. The report highlights deficiencies in prevention, detection, and post‑fracture care, urging greater prioritisation of rehabilitation, exercise prescriptions, and systematic follow‑up to curb growing societal and economic burdens.