HC Deb 12 December 1989 vol 163 c617W
128. Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence he has as to the extent of brittle bone disease amongst older women.

Mr. Freeman

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the condition of osteoporosis which primarily, but not exclusively, affects women after the menopause. There is little data available on trends in osteoporosis. One marker which is, however, used is hospital episodes⋆ for hip fractures (fracture of neck of femur). The figures for hospital episodes for fracture of neck of femur (ICD 820) for 1987–88 are:

  1. i. estimated number of persons (all ages) 44,780;
  2. ii. estimated number of females (all ages) 35,360;
  3. iii. estimated number of females (75 years and over) 27,020.

⋆ A hospital episode is a period of continuous care in the same district under one consultant.