Osteoporosis
Feature
A FRAGILITY FRACTURE SCREAMS CHRONIC DISEASE David Askin, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Bone Health, Tallaght University Hospital, examines treatment gaps in osteoporosis management Osteoporosis was on the back foot before the emergence of Covid-19. Leading bone health specialists highlighted a critical care gap in an ageing population with the urgent need to increase screening and instigate osteoporosis treatment in high-risk groups in 2016 (American Society of Bone Mineral Research (ASBMR) 2016). Jane E Brody writing for The New York Times high-
20 SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2020
lighted the perfect storm for broken bones in 2018. In America, osteoporosis treatment is on the decline with less screening in those that had already fractured. From a European perspective, the treatment gap was highlighted in a study in six countries with 6080 per cent of patients not receiving treatment following fracture (International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF)
2018). Harrington aptly described osteoporosis care as "The Bermuda Triangle made up of orthopaedists, primary care physicians and osteoporosis experts into which the fracture patients disappear" (Ă…kesson et al, 2013). Orthopaedic surgeons rely on primary care to manage osteoporosis, but need to advise them when followup is required. The osteoporosis ex-
