Healthcare community join to fight fragility fractures caused by Osteoporosis

 The Asian Federation of Osteoporosis Societies (AFOS), the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) and Amgen have announced the ‘Fight the Fracture’ public education campaign to address secondary fracture prevention ‒ the prevention of a subsequent fracture ‒ across Asia Pacific, at the 5th Scientific Meeting of the AFOS in Kuala Lumpur. The burden of fractures including healthcare costs for managing them is rising exponentially. By 2050, it is estimated that half of the world’s hip fractures will occur in Asia, where Asia Pacific is the fastest ageing region in the world.

Across the region, the cost of treating a hip fracture, on average, is equivalent to 19% of GDP per capita. A fracture has a potentially devastating impact on the health and quality of life for patients and their families. Around 25% patients who sustain a hip fracture die within a year and less than half of those who survive regain their previous level of function. Subsequent fractures further compromise patients’ quality of life. Once a patient suffers a fragility fracture, his or her risk of a future fracture increases up to 10 times.

Diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis, the underlying cause of the fracture, is critical. However, nearly half of patients who have suffered a fracture don't know that a fracture is a warning sign for osteoporosis, according to a recent survey of 400 patients by the Fight the Fracture-International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) Survey 2017. The survey is the first phase of the Fight the Fracture campaign and it investigates perceptions and behaviours of patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals about fragility fractures. The Fight the Fracture campaign aims to empower patients who have suffered a fragility fracture and their caregivers to proactively seek medical professional help in secondary care prevention ‒ the prevention of a subsequent fracture ‒ by providing them with educational information, tools and resources.

Stronger Together

"Fragility fractures are an epidemic that is growing in Asia Pacific and exerting a serious human, societal and economic cost in all countries which urgently needs to be addressed," said Professor Cyrus Cooper, IOF President. "IOF’s vision is a world without fragility fractures in which healthy mobility is a reality for all. We believe that Fight the Fracture makes an important contribution towards fragility fracture prevention worldwide and are excited that AFOS and Amgen are part of this important effort."