The Hindu : New Delhi News : “Little public awareness about bone health”

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Aug 19, 2007
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New Delhi

New Delhi

“Little public awareness about bone health”

Bindu Shajan Perappadan

Says new study carried out by an NGO, Arthritis Foundation of India Trusts

NEW DELHI: While a great many people worry about their heart and know that rising blood pressure and cholesterol levels are not a healthy sign either, few seem to care about the need to keep their bones healthy.

A new pilot study carried out here in the Capital has revealed that there isn’t enough public awareness about how to keep the bones healthy. Most people tend to dismiss ailments related to the bones as an “old age disease”.

The study was carried out by a non-government organisation, Arthritis Foundation of India Trusts (AFI), which works for creating public awareness in the field of muscular-skeletal diseases, especially osteoporosis and arthritis.

The study has revealed that only about 40 per cent of men and 32 per cent of women are aware that arthritis and osteoporosis are distinct ailments and 90 per cent of those who were part of the survey considered arthritis as a disease of old age.

Further findings also revealed that 35.8 per cent men above the age of 40 years knew that there are different kinds of arthritis and in the case of women a whopping 58.1 per cent above the age of 40 years knew about the same.

“Our survey exposed extremely low awareness regarding osteoporosis. We also wanted to find out about how many people knew about the fact that osteoporosis is treatable with medicines alone and no surgery is required. Our survey showed that 33.1 per cent men above the age of 40 years and 50.7 per cent men below 40 years knew about the same. Among women, 36 per cent over 40 years said they knew about availability of treatment for osteoporosis. Surprisingly despite fanciful talks about joints replacements and endoscopic surgery, a majority of people are still clueless regarding the utility of operation in arthritis and are not aware of the basic methods to keep their bones healthy,” said AFI chairman Sushil Sharma.

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