OBJECTIVES: Osteoporosis is one of the commonest bone diseases in which bone fragility is increased. There are several possibilities for the prevention of primary, secondary and tertiary osteoporosis but until now they have not been promoted enough and bone fragility is thought about only after the onset of a fracture (tertiary prevention). Preventative strategies against osteoporosis can be aimed at either optimizing the peak bone mass obtained, or reducing the rate of bone loss. Optimization of peak bone mass may be more amenable to public health strategies. METHODS: A group of patients over 50 year old that has been treated with medicines included in the AIFA Note 79 during a period of 5 years is studied in comparison with a similar group that has not been treated with medicines included in the AIFA Note 79 for the same period time. For both groups are also extracted inpatient and outpatient medical records and medicine prescriptions. Only patients treated for at least three years are considered significant. To avoid confounding the resulting data were standardized and stratified. RESULTS: The total expenditure for patients compliant with therapy who have had access to the hospital is less than twenty-eight percent compared to the total expenditure for patients not receiving therapy or not compliant. CONCLUSIONS: Osteoporosis is the most common bone disease and its incidence is rapidly increasing with the aging population. Even if curable, it is often left untreated causing a moderate use of economic resources that could be avoided.