Osteoporosis Clinical Care Standard

What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a chronic disease where a person’s bones become fragile, leading to an increased risk of fractures (broken bones). 

More than 1.2 million Australians are estimated to have osteoporosis, though many remain unaware of their condition until a fracture occurs. Fractures caused by osteoporosis are often called fragility fractures, or minimal trauma fractures. These fractures result from low energy trauma (a mechanical force that would not ordinarily cause a fracture), such as a fall from standing height or less.¹
 

Background to the Osteoporosis Clinical Care Standard

Although effective treatments are available, up to 80% of people remain undiagnosed and untreated even after presenting with a fragility fracture.² 

The strongest and most clinically relevant predictor of a future minimal trauma fracture is a previous fracture. 

A significant proportion of minimal trauma fractures could be avoided through appropriate osteoporosis diagnosis and management for people after a minimal trauma fracture. Only 35% of Australian patients hospitalised for hip fracture leave hospital on bone protection medicine, despite the increased risk of future fracture.³

Osteoporosis can significantly affect quality of life, leading to ongoing pain, reduced mobility, disability and loss of independence. It also places substantial burden on the health system with fracture treatment estimated to account for 68% of total direct costs.⁴ 

A coordinated and evidence-based approach is important to support safe and appropriate management. 
 

How will the Standard be developed?

In leading this work, the Commission will work collaboratively with key stakeholders, and with guidance from an expert topic working group, to:

• identify and describe key evidence-based standards of care 
• develop indicators to support local monitoring and quality improvement efforts related to the standards of care
• develop a Clinical Care Standard that enhances and supports existing efforts and initiatives to improve the quality of care and outcomes for people with osteoporosis in Australia
• identify strategies, and develop resources, to support the dissemination and implementation of the Clinical Care Standard.
   

Who will be consulted on the Standard’s development?

Clinicians, consumers and healthcare services will be consulted during the development of the Standard, which will include a public consultation period. The Commission has established a Topic Working Group (TWG) to provide advice and guidance throughout the development of the Standard. The TWG is a multidisciplinary group of clinicians, researchers and consumers from around Australia.

• Topic Working Group - Osteoporosis Clinical Care Standard

To be notified about the public consultation, subscribe to the Commission’s e-News.
 

Next steps

A high-level summary of the activities and timeframes to deliver this Clinical Care Standard are provided in the table below.

These timelines are subject to change.

References

1. World Health Organisation. Fragility fractures. [Internet]. 2024. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/fragility-fractures
2. P. Naik-Panvelkar, S. Norman, Z. Elgebaly, J. Elliott, A. Pollack, J. Thistlethwaite, et Al. Osteoporosis management in Australian general practice: an analysis of current osteoporosis treatment patterns and gaps in practice. BMC Fam Pract. 2020:21(1) 
3. Australian and New Zealand Hip Fracture Registry. Annual report of hip fracture care 2025. September 2025. Available at anzhfr.org/registry-reports
4. Tatangelo G, Watts J, Lim K, Connaughton C, Abimanyi-Ochom J, Borgström F, et al. The Cost of Osteoporosis, Osteopenia, and Associated Fractures in Australia in 2017. J Bone Miner Res. 2019 Apr;34(4):616-625