Abstract / Summary
Abstract Osteoporosis is a growing public health challenge worldwide, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are no exception. This narrative review summarizes epidemiological evidence on osteoporosis, osteopenia, and fragility fractures in GCC countries using published studies from 2010 onward. Published studies conducted in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were reviewed across PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science from 2010 onward. Literature was identified from peer-reviewed sources reporting bone mineral density assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, quantitative ultrasound, or fracture incidence determined by radiology or ICD-10 coding. Findings were summarized narratively given heterogeneity in populations, methods, and diagnostic definitions. Osteoporosis prevalence varied widely across GCC studies, approximately 3 to 27%, reflecting substantial heterogeneity in age and sex distributions, menopausal settings, diagnostic modalities, and criteria used to define osteoporosis. Osteopenia was consistently more common, affecting approximately 22 to 53% of studied populations. Fragility fracture registries revealed increasing age-specific incidence, with hip fracture rates exceeding 900/100,000 among adults ≥ 80 years in Kuwait. Radiology-confirmed vertebral and femoral fractures also represented a substantial burden, particularly in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the UAE. Across countries, women were disproportionately affected, though data in men remain limited. Osteoporosis and osteopenia represent a substantial burden across the GCC, with fracture incidence rising sharply with age. Despite emerging data, significant gaps remain, particularly in longitudinal and male-focused studies. GCC countries need to develop electronic fracture registries to obtain accurate data on osteoporotic fractures and their health, community, and financial burdens and to support the implementation of prevention, recognition, and management strategies. Osteoporosis should therefore be considered an important public health priority across the GCC.