WAUKESHA, Wis., Apr 28, 2005 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- GE Healthcare (GE) is the world's largest provider of bone mineral densitometry (BMD) technology, which is used to detect and diagnose Osteoporosis and other skeletal disorders.

According to the November 2004 Surgeon General's report, 10 million Americans over the age of 50 have osteoporosis, while another 34 million are at risk for developing the disease. Although there are nearly 44 million Americans that may be affected by osteoporosis, studies referenced by the Surgeon General conclude that only 3-23% of these high-risk patients have been tested.

GE is offering the following resources to journalists for Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month (May 2005):

-- Unique patient and clinician studies and stories about Osteoporosis detection and diagnosis specifically in areas such as pediatrics, vertebral fracture assessment and patients with an increased risk for developing osteoporosis. For example, studies have shown that chemotherapy cancer treatments can cause or contribute to the development of osteoporosis in women as young as 35-years-old. A clinician in South Carolina has integrated GE's BMD technology into her oncology practice to monitor the bone density of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy

-- New data demonstrating the importance and growth of BMD testing.  According to the recent, first-ever U.S. Surgeon General's report on the nation's bone health, by the year 2020 one out of two Americans over the age of 50 will be at risk for fractures from osteoporosis. As a result, the number of bone density tests could double in the next five years. Per the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the direct care costs for osteoporotic fractures alone are already up to $18 billion each year. That number is expected to increase if action to prevent osteoporosis is not taken now.

-- Information on the latest advancements in BMD technology. GE's Lunar Prodigy's direct digital technology provides the most precise measurement of bone density today, with twice the precision of competitive systems

-- National efforts to ensure ongoing education about Osteoporosis. The GE Women's Health and Wellness Tour, a mobile unit traveling across the country, in conjunction with local area hospitals and treating physicians, is providing free BMD testing and information on Osteoporosis

SOURCE: GE Healthcare

GE Healthcare
Kristin Binns, 262-544-3616
kristin.binns@ge.com