Osteoporosis-related fractures are associated with a substantial increase in the utilization of health services for both acute and long-term care. Fracture risk increases with age,1^,2 as does the burden of disease in terms of morbidity, mortality, and costs.3 Here we focus on the effects of osteoporosis and related fractures on health care utilization.

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• 3. Braithwaite RS, Col NF, Wong JB: Estimating hip fracture morbidity, mortality, and costs. J Am Geriatr Soc 2003;51:364-370.