MARLBOROUGH, Mass.,
May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/
-- While nearly three-quarters of Americans (71%) are aware of
the effects that osteoporosis can have on their health, only about
half report taking any steps to prevent it,1
according to the results of a new survey announced today by Hologic
(Nasdaq: HOLX). To mark the start of National Osteoporosis Month,
Hologic is raising awareness of this major threat to women's
health, which affects nearly 56 million Americans.
Osteoporosis is a disease that causes low bone density, leading
to weaker bones that are more likely to break. In fact,
osteoporosis causes two million broken bones in the U.S. each year,
which result in more than half a million hospitalizations, more
than 800,000 emergency room visits, more than 2.6 million trips to
the doctor, and the placement of nearly 180,000 people into nursing
homes.2,3
"Osteoporosis is often referred to as the 'silent disease' since
it can go undetected for a long period of time, making it even more
critical that men and women understand the risk factors and take
proactive steps to prevent and identify signs of the disease," said
Dr. Andrea Singer, Clinical Director
for the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF). "Making simple
lifestyle changes and scheduling a bone density scan can go a long
way in promoting bone health and preventing osteoporosis."
The NOF recommends that postmenopausal women with certain risk
factors, and all women over the age of 65, talk to their doctors
about having a DXA scan, also called a bone mineral density test,
to assess for osteoporosis. Men over 70 should also be screened, as
well as men under 70 if they have specific risk factors. Despite
these recommendations, the new survey showed that only 36 percent
of women ages 50+ are aware that more women die annually due to the
effects of osteoporosis than from breast cancer and cervical cancer
combined.1,4,5,6
"Research has shown that women who take the time to get a DXA
scan are less likely to suffer an osteoporotic fracture," said
Jon Gingrich, Hologic's Vice
President & General Manager, Skeletal Health Solutions. "The
knowledge of their risk level for osteoporosis, combined with early
intervention to slow disease progression, clearly impacts their
day-to-day behavior and reduces their risk of fracture. That said,
our survey alarmingly illustrated a lack of compliance with testing
recommendations. Only 13 percent of women ages 50+ reported getting
a DXA scan.1"
Other key takeaways from the survey include:
- Sixty percent of women ages 50+ are concerned about developing
osteoporosis.
- Fifty-four percent of women ages 50+ report taking a calcium
supplement to prevent osteoporosis, but only 30 percent of the same
group report doing weight-bearing exercise.
- Slightly over half of Americans (55%) say they are aware that
osteoporosis screening is a preventive service that is covered by
insurance without a co-pay.
- Less than half (47%) of women ages 50+ report that their doctor
has recommended they get a bone density scan.
Learn more about Hologic and National Osteoporosis Month at
www.BoneAwareness.com.
About the Survey
This survey was conducted online
within the United States
between April 7 and 11, 2016 among
2,157 U.S. adults ages 18 and older by Harris Poll via its Quick
Query omnibus product. Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity,
education, region and household income were weighted where
necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in
the population. Propensity score weighting was used to adjust for
respondents' propensity to be online.
All sample surveys and polls, whether or not they use
probability sampling, are subject to multiple sources of error that
which are most often not possible to quantify or estimate,
including sampling error, coverage error, error associated with
nonresponse, error associated with question wording and response
options, and post-survey weighting and adjustments. Therefore, the
words "margin of error" are avoided as they are misleading. All
that can be calculated are different possible sampling errors with
different probabilities for pure, unweighted, random samples with
100% response rates. These are only theoretical because no
published polls come close to this ideal.
Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who
have agreed to participate in our Harris surveys. The data have
been weighted to reflect the composition of the adult population.
Because the sample is based on those who agreed to participate in
the online panel, no estimates of theoretical sampling error can be
calculated.
About Hologic
Hologic, Inc. is a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of
premium diagnostic products, medical imaging systems and surgical
products. The Company's core business units focus on diagnostics,
breast health, GYN surgical and skeletal health. With a unified
suite of technologies and a robust research and development
program, Hologic is dedicated to The Science of Sure. For more
information on Hologic, visit www.hologic.com.
Hologic and the Science of Sure are trademarks and/or registered
trademarks of Hologic, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries in the
United States and/or other countries.
Media Contact:
Jane Mazur
508.263.8764 (direct)
585.355.5978 (mobile)
jane.mazur@hologic.com
Investor Contact:
Michael Watts
858.410.8588
michael.watts@hologic.com
1 Harris Poll. Omnibus Survey on Osteoporosis.
April 7-11, 2016
2 US Department of Health and Human Services. Bone
Health and Osteoporosis: A Report of the Surgeon General.
Rockville, MD: Office of the
Surgeon General; 2004.
3 Burge R, Dawson-Hughes B, Solomon DH, Wong JB, King A,
Tosteson A. Incidence and economic burden of osteoporosis- related
fractures in the United States,
2005-2025. J Bone Miner Res. 2007;22(3):465-475.
4 Alliance for Aging Research. The Silver Book:
Osteoporosis: Chronic Disease and Medical Innovation in an Aging
Nation. Washington, D.C. 2008.
Online.
5
http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/understand_bc/statistics
6
http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cervicalcancer/detailedguide/cervical-cancer-key-statistics
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SOURCE Hologic, Inc.