PATIENTS suffering from osteoporosis risk being left crippled because GPs are not referring them early enough, an expert has claimed.

Dr Taher Mahmud, from Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, wants GPs to check for osteoporosis in patients as part of their routine check-up.

The consultant rheumatologist said: "GPs do fantastic things for heart disease, cholesterol and diabetes.

"But they could do more for osteoporosis so it can be picked up quicker.

"It would also help people to get referred sooner and reduce the fracture rate."

Osteoporosis occurs when the bones start to thin out, leaving them susceptible to fractures.

Symptoms can include the loss of height and the disease affects more than 3 million sufferers in the UK.

Recent figures show out of 70,000 people, who have osteoporotic hip fractures each year, 30 per cent will die within a year from causes related to the fracture.

"Those that survive will be institutionalised, put in a nursing home or go home with symptoms," Dr Mahmud added.

"We can make a diagnosis on your likelihood of getting a fracture over 10 years using what's called the FRAX (Fracture Risk Assessment) tool, which GPs could use as well.

"With appropriate treatment we can prevent the development of fractures."

Dr Mahmud wants to raise awareness about osteoporosis so that patients are encouraged to come forward for screenings and the right treatments.

He said: "Often patients don't go to their GP in the first place because they perceive it not to be a big thing.

"If people think they have lost height and know people who have osteoporosis in their family, they need to get treatment.

"But they are a selfless group and often want to soldier on by themselves. They believe nothing can be done and are willing to put up with it."