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Review
. 2021 Feb;19(1):58-65.
doi: 10.1007/s11914-020-00644-w. Epub 2021 Jan 9.

Closing the Osteoporosis Care Gap

Kristina E Åkesson  1   2 , Fiona E A McGuigan  3   4
Affiliations
Review

Closing the Osteoporosis Care Gap

Kristina E Åkesson et al. Curr Osteoporos Rep. 2021 Feb.

Abstract

Purpose of review: This review outlines the scope of the problem in osteoporosis care and secondary fracture prevention and describes fracture prevention strategies, with a focus on the frail elderly.

Recent findings: Despite heightened awareness among patients and clinicians alike and the availability of efficacious anti-osteoporosis medications, osteoporosis is still underdiagnosed and undertreated. However, the introduction of systematic risk assessment and secondary fracture prevention programmes has gained momentum, and evidence of success is accumulating. We possess today the knowledge required to close the osteoporosis care gap. The basic components in a secondary prevention model are similar in all health care settings, number one being a dedicated fracture coordinator, with anti-osteoporosis medications and multifaceted falls prevention as cornerstones, particularly in the frailest, both in the near and long-term. Initiation of structured care pathways including the key elements - identification, investigation, intervention and follow-up of adherence - demonstrably reduces re-fracture rates and is cost-effective.

Keywords: Elderly; Fracture; Fracture liaison service; Frailty; Prevention.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Age- and type-specific fracture pattern
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The interaction between risk factors for fracture, falls, frailty, fracture and re-fracture
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Change in patient outcomes after osteoporosis-related fractures when managed through fracture liaison service (FLS) programmes
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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