# Too late, too often: missed opportunities in male bone health: a real-world portrait from a 14-year specialist referral experience

## TL;DR

This study shows that many men are being diagnosed with bone issues too late, often missing early treatment opportunities due to overlooked risk factors and lack of awareness.

## Contribution

The study provides real-world insights into the underdiagnosed and undertreated nature of male osteoporosis in a specialist referral setting.

## Key findings

- Over 40% of men had osteoporosis or osteopenia, with fractures common even in those under 50.
- Many men with risk factors or fractures had not received any bone-related treatment.
- Secondary osteoporosis was prevalent, suggesting the need for more thorough evaluation of comorbidities.

## Abstract

To characterize, using real-life data, the clinical profile of men undergoing their first bone health evaluation at a tertiary academic center over a 14-year period.

Retrospective, observational, cross-sectional study including adult men referred to our center between 2007 and 2021 for bone health assessment. Fractures, comorbidities, risk factors for bone loss, and pharmacological treatments were collected.

536 men were enrolled (147 under 50, 385 over 50). At least one comorbidity associated with bone loss was found in 49.3% of patients, and 43.8% were receiving medications causing bone mineral density (BMD) reduction—mainly corticosteroids and androgen deprivation therapy. The prevalence of osteoporosis, osteopenia, and low BMD for age was 42.3%, 44.8%, and 48.6%, respectively. Osteoporosis-related fractures were found in 216 patients (40.8%), whose 34 men under 50 (15.7%). Up to 17.5% of men with fractures had normal BMD. A total of 181 patients (33.8%) had never received calcium/vitamin D supplementation or bone-active therapy; the prevalence of treatment-naïve patients was 20–23% even among men with fractures or receiving corticosteroids/androgen-deprivation therapy.

Male osteoporosis presents with a high rate of fractures in the real-life clinical practice at a tertiary academic center. The high prevalence of comorbidities associated with bone loss suggests that secondary forms of osteoporosis should be carefully investigated, even in presence of normal BMD. The significant proportion of untreated men—including those with known risk factors or fractures—highlights the urgent need to raise awareness and improve the management of male osteoporosis, especially in primary healthcare.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40618-025-02753-8.