Osteoporosis care: bringing innovation to those that will benefit the most

eCMSadmin — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Scott Fleming, Global Communications & Company Reputation

eCMSadmin Mon 06/04/2020 - 02:00

Innovation drives our search for new therapies that bring value to patients. However, for innovative treatments to have maximum impact on patient care, they must be readily available to those who need them most.

In the third of a series of thought leader articles by ��ֳ� personnel, in partnership with the Health Europa journal, we look at the adoption of innovation in osteoporosis care and management. Our goal is to ensure that the needs of the growing number of people at risk of fractures are highlighted.

Consider the fact: almost half of patients who suffer an osteoporotic hip fracture have experienced a previous osteoporotic fracture, but most of these patients did not receive treatment that could have reduced their risk of hip fracture. This represents a significant missed opportunity to prevent painful broken bones that can impact quality of life.

Innovation should focus on early diagnosis and prevention of future fractures; too many patients remain undiagnosed and untreated today, disconnected from the healthcare professionals who can help manage their disease, meaning they remain at risk of fractures that can lead to disability, loss of quality of life, and premature death.

The risk of fragility fractures rises with age, making osteoporosis care a priority for the future. As populations age, it will become increasingly important to ensure that older people have access to the services and care they need to stay healthy.

Some healthcare professionals are concerned by the level of access to innovation in osteoporosis. Research conducted by ��ֳ�, showed that over a quarter (28%) of bone specialists rated the level of innovation in osteoporosis as below average or poor and, they agreed that health systems are not doing enough to support. If we continue on this path, millions of people risk missing out on an acceptable quality of later life as they age. Ageing is inevitable, but how we age is not.

Of course, innovation is not all about new therapies or technologies. Innovative models of service delivery play a vital role in fracture prevention. A few years ago, we saw a welcome shift in the way osteoporosis is managed with the implementation of the Fracture Liaison Service (FLS). Best practices like the FLS have already undergone rigorous improvement over time, and their benefit is already widely acknowledged. More uptake of these services will provide solutions to the disconnect between patient and healthcare professional.

In addition to best practice processes like an FLS program, patients and physicians alike could benefit from a more individualized approach to treating and monitoring osteoporosis and fracture risk. The availability of reliable biomarkers also promises to make fracture prevention more effective and personal.

Looking ahead, using artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to analyse bone scans could help to identify patients susceptible to future fractures and lead to more effective clinical intervention, ultimately driving towards reducing the co-morbidities associated with osteoporosis.

For our part, ��ֳ� is working to advance osteoporosis management and fracture prevention. We will continue to strive to deliver value to patients by developing new therapies and embracing the latest technologies. It is vital that patients have access to these new tools if we are to tackle healthy ageing together.

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Living longer with osteoporosis: managing fractures to protect quality of life

eCMSadmin — Fri, 13 Mar 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Living longer with osteoporosis: managing fractures to protect quality of life

Scott Fleming, Global Communications & Company Reputation

eCMSadmin Fri 13/03/2020 - 01:00

Good news – more people are living longer lives. This can increase the risk of age-related conditions including osteoporosis. That’s why it’s time to do more to identify and manage those at risk of fragility fractures.

In the second of a series of thought leader articles by ��ֳ� personnel, in partnership with the Health Europa journal, we look at the future of fracture prevention. It is a challenge that has evolved in recent decades as life expectancy has risen.

Between 2015 and 2030, the number of people in the world aged 60 years or over is projected to grow by 56 percent to 1.4 billion. By 2050, the global population of older people is projected to more than double its 2015 size, reaching nearly 2.1 billion.

This has significant implications age related conditions such as osteoporosis and fragility fractures. According to the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), the increase in fragility fracture incidence across six European countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the UK) alone between 2017 and 2030 is estimated at 23 percent.

These fragility fractures have the potential to impose a significant burden on a person’s life, often making everyday activities such as eating, dressing, shopping or driving difficult. Those that suffer a hip fracture face reduced mobility, disability and loss of independence. In addition to the human cost, fragility fractures cost health systems in the European Union €37 billion in 2010 and based on demographic changes, costs are predicted to double by 2050.

Treat-to-target

One way to enhance and individualise the care of patients with osteoporosis would be a treat-to-target approach much in the same way that people with diabetes are often set an HbA1c target. Patients should be educated on their current disease status, in addition to being informed on future risks and their implications, at the time of diagnosis.

Additionally, Fracture liaison services (FLS) have been shown to reduce the frequency of subsequent fractures, improve adherence to treatment and provide cost savings when correctly implemented. But action is needed such that the care that FLS afford become the standard.

Ultimately, greater prioritisation needs to be given to osteoporosis identification, education and management. We hope that with an increase in investment for osteoporosis and fragility research, innovation and education, we can collectively tackle the issues faced by those living with the conditions and support those HCPs who play a vital role in the patients’ journey in order to allow them to age healthily.

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IOF International Osteoporosis Foundation Health Europa fragility fracture FLS bone

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Osteoporosis care: bringing innovation to those that will benefit the most

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Living longer with osteoporosis: managing fractures to protect quality of life

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