Osteoporosis in India: Why Women Over 50 Need a Bone Density Check
Dr. Soutrik Mukherjee
MS (Ortho) · AO Masters · Advanced Ortho and Spine Clinic, Kolkata
India has a large and growing burden of osteoporosis — yet awareness remains very low. Most women are diagnosed only after a fracture, often a hip or wrist fracture from a minor fall, by which point significant bone loss has already occurred. This is largely preventable. Here is what every woman over 50 needs to know.
What is osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis means "porous bones" — a condition in which bone mineral density decreases to the point where bones become fragile and prone to fractures. It is largely silent until a fracture occurs. The most dangerous fractures are hip fractures, which carry a significant risk of complications, loss of independence, and mortality in elderly patients.
Why are Indian women particularly at risk?
Several factors increase risk in Indian women: low calcium intake due to relatively low dairy consumption, vitamin D deficiency (ironically common even in a sunny country, due to skin coverage and indoor lifestyles), early menopause, small body frame, and low physical activity levels. Combined with genetic predisposition, Indian women often develop osteoporosis a decade earlier than their Western counterparts.
What is a DEXA scan and what does the T-score mean?
A DEXA (Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) scan is a quick, painless scan that measures bone mineral density, usually at the hip and lumbar spine. The result is expressed as a T-score: above -1 is normal, between -1 and -2.5 is osteopenia (low bone density, pre-osteoporosis), and below -2.5 is osteoporosis. The scan takes about 15 minutes and involves minimal radiation.
Who should get screened?
All women over 65 should have a baseline DEXA scan. Women aged 50–65 should be screened earlier if they have risk factors including early menopause (before age 45), a family history of osteoporosis or hip fracture, long-term steroid use, low body weight, smoking, or a prior low-impact fracture.
How is osteoporosis treated?
Treatment combines lifestyle measures (calcium and vitamin D supplementation, weight-bearing exercise, fall prevention) with medications — bisphosphonates are the most commonly used first-line agents. Treatment significantly reduces fracture risk. If you have already had a fragility fracture, the priority is preventing the next one.
In Summary
Osteoporosis is a silent disease, but it does not have to be a deadly one. A simple scan, a consultation, and appropriate treatment can dramatically reduce your fracture risk. If you are a woman over 50 and have never had a bone density check, please ask your doctor for a referral.
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