Men tend to have more bone health problems than women because most often than not, their condition goes undiagnosed and untreated, a new study finds.

The study was conducted by researchers from the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF). The study authors were surprised to find that one-third of all hip fractures worldwide occur in men with mortality rates as high as 37 percent in the first year following fracture.

So what makes men the weaker sex when it comes to bone health? The researchers noted that men often were undiagnosed and untreated for their condition, making them more vulnerable to early death and disability, irrespective of fracture type.

"It is estimated that the lifetime risk of experiencing an osteoporotic fracture in men over the age of 50 years is up to 27percent, higher than that of developing prostate cancer," Professor John A. Kanis, President, IOF said in a press statement. "Yet, an inadequate amount of health-care resources are being invested in bone, muscle and joint diseases. We have proven cost-effective solutions available, such as Fracture Liaison Services that can help identify those at risk and avoid a continuous cascade of broken bones. People should not have to live with the pain and suffering caused by osteoporosis as we can help prevent and control the disease."

What's even more disturbing is the fact that osteoporosis is often referred to as a woman's disease, when in fact this condition affects every one in five men aged above 50 years. As governments and health-care systems focus on diseases such as cancer and heart disease, this disorder is not being recognized as a threat and affecting an increasing number of victims.

"In the EU, projections suggest that by 2025 the total number of fractures in men will increase by 34 percent, to almost 1.6 million cases per year," Lead author of the report, Professor Peter Ebeling (IOF board member and Head, Department of Medicine, Monash University, Victoria, Australia) said in a press statement. "In the USA the number of hip fractures among men is expected to increase by 51.8 percent from the year 2010 to 2030, and in contrast the number among women is expected to decrease 3.5 percent. A battle is set to rage between the quantity and quality of life. We must act now to ensure men not only live longer but also have a future free of the pain and suffering caused by osteoporotic fractures."