WCO-IOF-ESCEO

Closing the gap in osteoporosis: It’s make or break for post-fracture care

Andrea_Puletto — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 07:29:04 +0000

Closing the gap in osteoporosis: It’s make or break for post-fracture care

Nico Reynders, Bone Health Mission

Andrea_Puletto Wed 10/04/2024 - 09:29

We can’t escape the facts. Around the world, the treatment gap in osteoporosis continues to be as pervasive as it is affecting; in an international survey last year, the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) revealed that almost one in two women after the age of 50 and over experienced a fracture. Paradoxically, bone health – and the chance to identify and treat the underlying osteoporosis – was neglected during medical check-ups. The ramifications of this missed opportunity are huge.

Why does this matter? The impact on daily life for women with osteoporosis should not be underestimated, with fractures marked by excruciating pain, immobilization, and prolonged hospitalization, robbing them of their independence. This can have a significant impact on their well-being, leaving women feeling anxious and isolated. The lack of appropriate intervention at this crucial trigger point of the patient journey places a staggering burden on healthcare systems, with the cost of fractures in the EU anticipated to hit 77 billion EUR by 2050.

In the past year, we have made great progress in elevating secondary fracture prevention on government agendas – for example, the success in Japan following its reimbursement scheme for Fracture Liaison Services (FLSs) and last year’s announcement of a government-funded osteoporosis knowledge center in Stockholm, Sweden – however, global efforts to tackle the treatment gap fall short of what is truly necessary. And, with the global population aging at a phenomenal rate, it is rapidly becoming a challenge we can no longer afford to ignore.

Closing the gaps in osteoporosis

As global leaders of the bone health community gather in London this week for the World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases, we have a unique opportunity to confront some of the barriers that prevent us from the delivery of optimal patient care:

Knowledge gap: IOF’s survey highlighted a disconnect between the occurrence of fractures amongst women at high-risk of osteoporosis and the decision by healthcare professionals to perform a diagnostic scan. And, as described by Kassim Javaid in the latest episode of the ��ֳ� podcast, Fragility Fractures in Focus, the lack of a recognized ‘bone specialism’ has resulted in a lack of clarity around which practitioners ‘own’ this area of medicine, and consequently, how it should be delivered effectively. How can we therefore equip ALL healthcare practitioners with the knowledge and the tools they need to ensure everyone with osteoporosis receives appropriate investigation and intervention after experiencing a fracture?

Fragmented pathways: In most healthcare systems, patients who experience a fracture are often faced with disjointed pathways that are unable to deliver the necessary assessment for osteoporosis, once again, leading to missed opportunities for timely diagnosis, initiation of appropriate treatments and implementation of preventive measures to reduce the risk of subsequent fractures.

Patient education and empowerment: Empowering patients with accurate information, clear guidance in treatment regimens and supporting resources can enable them to make informed decisions and take an active role in their care by having effective conversations with their doctors.

Post-fracture care – make or break?

Fortunately, a means to bridge these gaps already exists. Coordinated, multidisciplinary services such as FLSs enable rapid referral, facilitate early intervention and improve secondary fracture prevention. These services provide a seamless pathway post-fracture by systematically identifying patients, assessing their fall and fracture risk, and carefully evaluating the most effective intervention, placing the individual’s needs at the center of care. FLSs have been shown to be both clinically and cost-effective , and are described as the single most important step in directly improving patient care and reducing spiraling fracture-related healthcare costs worldwide.

But having a solution is only half the challenge. Global implementation of coordinated post-fracture services is dependent on the close collaboration between policymakers, payers, healthcare professionals and the pharmaceutical industry, and a unified commitment to elevate secondary fracture prevention as a healthcare priority.

We are proud to work closely with partners such as the Fragility Fracture Network and IOF, which look to make this vision a reality – IOF’s Capture the Fracture® program recently celebrated a tremendous milestone of 900 registered FLSs worldwide, doubling the number of services since 2019. To support those looking to start a new FLS or improve the performance of an existing service, we and our partners at Amgen established the FLS Academy and Network (FAN), an educational program led by a Scientific Steering Committee of international experts. FAN offers healthcare professionals practical resources, expert guidance and access to knowledge-sharing events designed to help overcome the challenges faced by those on the ground.

The evidence is in front of us – we already have the tools at our disposal to close the treatment gap in osteoporosis. Through a multidisciplinary approach and the prioritization of secondary fracture prevention on a national, regional, and global level, we can create a world free of fragility fractures.

To hear more on how we can close the treatment gap in osteoporosis, listen to the latest episode of Fragility in Fractures Focus here https://open.spotify.com/episode/7DZrvyPpQfQktd3OVFZj5y?si=2dee74488a4849b7.

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Listen NOW to ��ֳ�’s ‘Fragility Fractures in Focus’ Podcast on Spotify: Episode two marks the start of WCO-IOF-ESCEO 2023

Vanco Vlastimil (��ֳ� S.A.) — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 07:00:00 +0000

Listen NOW to ��ֳ�’s ‘Fragility Fractures in Focus’ Podcast on Spotify: Episode two marks the start of WCO-IOF-ESCEO 2023

Adriaan Snauwaert, Global Communications & Company Reputation

Vanco Vlastimi… Fri 28/04/2023 - 09:00

A brand new podcast series - created specifically for healthcare professionals in bone health – is now live. In the unique “Fragility Fractures in Focus” series, a number of renowned experts in bone health will explore some of the most pressing issues impacting clinical practice today - how can the prevention of secondary fractures improve patients’ lives? How can we reduce the burden of fractures on healthcare systems? What role can FLSs play?

The second episode in this exciting series has just been launched to coincide with the start of the World Congress on Osteoporosis (WCO) of the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) and the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis (ESCEO), in Barcelona (May 4-7). Hosted by Cesar Libanati, ��ֳ�’s Head of Medical Affairs, Bone, this episode (fittingly titled Breaking the Fracture Cycle) features special guest Dr Maria Talla, consultant physician in endocrinology and mineral metabolism at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. Dr Talla, is clinical lead of the FLS in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, which is fast becoming an example of best practice. She’s, therefore, perfectly placed to offer unique insights into the impact of FLSs on patient care and secondary fracture prevention.

‘Prevention’ is a key component of the P4 Health Spectrum (along with predictive, personalized, and participatory) which looks to shift focus away from disease to the promotion of a state of wellness, defined as ‘optimal health’. Every episode in the podcast series will be based on the spectrum, an increasingly recognized cornerstone of proactive modern medicine.

“The Fragility Fractures in Focus podcast series highlights ��ֳ�’s continued commitment to creating value for patients and the scientific community”, explains Nico Reynders, Head of Bone Mission. “��ֳ� is proud to showcase its continuous work at WCO-IOF-ESCEO, which aims to move the needle on all aspects of bone health and reduce the risk of fragility fractures.”

Curious? You can listen to episodes one and two of the podcast here (for healthcare professionals only):

Stay up to date with the latest ��ֳ� news at WCO-IOF-ESCEO 2023 through our social media channels (Twitter, LinkedIn) and get involved using #WCO2023.

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WCO-IOF-ESCEO osteoporosis World Congress on Osteoporosis International Osteoporosis Foundation European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis

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Partnering together from afar: Improving outcomes for people living with osteoporosis

eCMSadmin — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 08:30:00 +0000

Partnering together from afar: Improving outcomes for people living with osteoporosis

Brandon Drew, Osteoporosis Mission, Immunology Solutions

eCMSadmin Tue 18/08/2020 - 10:30

This years’ World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (WCO-IOF-ESCEO) is set to take place virtually on 20-23 August. While it is not the ‘live’ stage many had initially anticipated, the virtual congress is a fantastic opportunity to connect with the osteoporosis community and share insights into the latest advances in bone health from around the world.

In today’s current climate, the importance of continuing to connect from afar extends beyond congresses. Recently, ��ֳ� announced a new collaboration with the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) to support its Capture the Fracture^® program which aims to combat the global public health burden of osteoporosis by reducing the incidence of hip and vertebral fractures by 25% by 2025.

Osteoporosis is a serious chronic condition that weakens bone over time, making them thinner and more likely to break. We are fortunate though, that there are steps patients and healthcare providers can take to reduce fracture risk. Despite these resources, even after an osteoporosis-related fracture, approximately, 80% of individuals at high risk are still not identified or treated. Capture the Fracture, a global IOF initiative, now supported by ��ֳ� and Amgen and in collaboration with the University of Oxford, aims to proactively implement post-fracture care (PFC) coordination programs in hospitals and healthcare systems to help patients prevent subsequent fractures due to osteoporosis.

This partnership also welcomes collaboration from existing fracture prevention coalitions on international, regional, and national levels to drive fracture prevention policy change and prioritization. Additional aims of the partnership include developing and implementing efficiencies and best practice sharing across PFC program sites, creating digital platforms to track and share PFC effectiveness, and providing virtual and in-person mentorship and learning opportunities for healthcare providers.

By continuing to connect, partner and collaborate with organizations and experts around the world, even virtually, ��ֳ� hopes to tackle a significant healthcare issue that has been overlooked for too long, and deliver better support and outcomes for people living with the osteoporosis.

For more information about Capture the Fracture, please visit http://www.capturethefracture.org.

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WCO-IOF-ESCEO Capture the Fracture bone

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Closing the gap in osteoporosis: It’s make or break for post-fracture care

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Listen NOW to ��ֳ�’s ‘Fragility Fractures in Focus’ Podcast on Spotify: Episode two marks the start of WCO-IOF-ESCEO 2023

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Partnering together from afar: Improving outcomes for people living with osteoporosis

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WCO-IOF-ESCEO

Closing the gap in osteoporosis: It’s make or break for post-fracture care

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Listen NOW to ������ֳ�’s ‘Fragility Fractures in Focus’ Podcast on Spotify: Episode two marks the start of WCO-IOF-ESCEO 2023

Leave a Comment

Partnering together from afar: Improving outcomes for people living with osteoporosis

Leave a Comment

Listen NOW to ��ֳ�’s ‘Fragility Fractures in Focus’ Podcast on Spotify: Episode two marks the start of WCO-IOF-ESCEO 2023