在美國骨質疏鬆症所引起的脊椎骨病變，平均發生率女性比男性高出一倍左右；而台灣地區六十五歲以上老人人口中，女性每四人即有一人罹患此病，更顯出女性人口在罹患骨質疏鬆症所引發的合併症之嚴重性。骨質疏鬆症分爲原發性及繼發性兩種，而其所引起的骨折中，以髖骨骨折導致的合併症最爲嚴重，預估全球髖骨骨折人數到2050年將增加爲六千九百萬人，其中有20~40%的人在骨折復六個月內會導致死亡。人體骨質隨著年齡增長而逐漸有流失情形，而依其臨床表做有不同診斷，倘若未加以注意及預防，其所導致後果不僅對患者本身是極大傷害，對於家庭以致整個社會亦是一個沈重負擔，因此骨質疏鬆症的預防更顯其重要性。

In the United States, the average incidence rate of fractures in women caused by osteoporosis is two times higher in women than in men. In Taiwan, one in every four women 65 years of age or older has osteoporosis. There are two types of osteoporosis: primary and secondary. Both can cause serious fractures. Among fractures, the most serious complications occur with hip fractures. The number of women who fracture their hip is predicted to increase to 69, 000, 000 in 2050. Among these women, it is estimated that approxinately 20~40% will die within six months after the fracture. Thus, the morbidity associated with osteoporosis and its complications has implications for the individual, the family, and society. Furthermore, bone calcium decreases with age; often no clinical symptoms are evident and no diagnosis occurs until complications, such as a fracture, occur. Consequently, more attention needs to be given to the prevention of osteoporosis and to the care of women with osteoporosis or associated complications.