Fractures due to osteoporosis have an incidence rate eight times higher than that of breast cancer here and often result in high treatment costs and serious consequences - in some cases, even death.

But although there are medicines that can reduce fracture risks by 30 to 70 per cent, many patients and doctors here are not aware of the threat that osteoporosis poses, said Dr Chionh Siok Bee, president of Osteoporosis Society Singapore.