Bones damaged by smoking

Osteoporosis link: tobacco cuts bone density, 
says latest research 

October 18, 2002

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Health groups have called for greater public awareness of the link between tobacco smoking and osteoporosis.

On World Osteoporosis Day (October 20), Osteoporosis Australia (OA) and Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Australia have urged governments and health authorities to intensify their efforts to cut smoking rates in the interests of reducing the incidence of the potentially disabling disease.

Osteoporosis is a disease causing deterioration of bone density and structure which can lead to spinal deformity and fractures – especially wrist, hip, spine, pelvis and upper arm.

“Half of all women over sixty and a third of men over sixty will suffer a fracture due to osteoporosis”, says Judy Stenmark, Chief Executive Officer of Osteoporosis Australia.

"This is a 7 billion dollar a year disease and we have to act now to prevent the first fracture - and quitting smoking is a major factor in reducing risk of fractures", she says.

Recent research shows the link between tobacco and osteoporosis is stronger than previously thought. A University of Memphis study* of more than 40,000 people pooled from 86 studies showed that smoking:

·         significantly reduces bone mass;

·         increases the risk of hip fracture by 31% in women and 40% in men; and

·         increases the lifetime risk of vertebral fracture by 13% in women and 32% in men.

These effects, says the study, may be partly reversed by quitting smoking.

Says Anne Jones, Chief Executive Officer of ASH Australia: “Vertebral collapse and fractures are causing disability, pain and enormous cost to the health system. These findings make it clear that if this is to be reduced, governments must increase their investment in anti-smoking campaigns.”

* Ward KD and Klesges RC, University of Memphis Center for Community Health, Tennessee USA:

 “A meta-analysis of the effects of cigarette smoking on bone mineral density”, in Calcif Tissue Int  2001: May; 68(5): 259-70

This is a joint release by Osteoporosis Australia and ASH Australia.

Comment:                

Judy Stenmark (CEO, Osteoporosis Australia)       ph. 0411-064-627
Anne Jones (CEO, ASH Australia)                        ph. 0417-227-879

Media inquiries:       Stafford Sanders                ph. (02) 9334-1823

Page last updated on 18/10/2002