How common is Paget’s disease?
After osteoporosis (brittle bones), Paget’s disease is the second most common type of bone disease. For reasons that are unclear, Paget’s disease is most common among people of white British descent. The condition is most widespread in the UK, and is relatively widespread in countries that have experienced high levels of migration from the UK, such as the United States of America, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Paget’s disease is an age-related condition. It is estimated that 1-2% of white adults who are over 55 years of age have Paget’s disease. This figure rises to 5-8% for white people who are over 80 years of age. The causes of Paget’s disease are unknown, but it has been suggested that it could be triggered by a combination of environmental and genetic factors.
