The UK has an ageing population. As we age, we tend to get long term conditions and need more health and social care support. Osteoporosis and fragility fractures pose a significant threat to the health and wellbeing of large numbers of elderly people and represents a public health issue that needs to be addressed. The clinical management of patients with osteoporosis and fragility fractures is already complex and neglected under normal circumstances and fracture-related burden is expected to increase over the coming decades. Further, disparity, disruption and deconditioning during the COVID-19 pandemic mean that we could potentially see “unprecedented” rises in fractures in the near future.

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These are potentially catastrophic injuries that deprive people of their independence, increase risk of death, burden hospitals and add to waiting lists of already overwhelmed care homes.  The already considerable economic burden of osteoporotic fractures on local healthcare economies is likely to increase as a consequence of patients receiving suboptimal care during the pandemic.

 

Meeting Objectives

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• Highlight the vulnerability of elderly people, the impact of COVID-19 and especially those with osteoporosis making the case to accelerate re-engagement with them to reduce their risk of a fragility fracture ((disparity, disruption and deconditioning).

• Create urgency to identify and optimise treatment for people at high fracture risk. Reinforce the importance of osteoporosis and the personal, social and economic consequence of not treating.

• Position osteoporosis management as part of the NHS commitments to the UK’s ageing population to stay well and live independently free from pain and disability and align how this supports elements of the NHS Long Term Plan

• Highlight the benefits of collaboration to help achieve improved screening and management of patients at risk of osteoporotic fragility fractures: showcase a population based working model of care developed with the Northern Health Science Alliance and AHSNs.

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This webinar has been jointly organised by Govconnect and Amgen and funded by Amgen.