Experts and patient groups highlight urgent need for improvement in the management of osteoporosis in the UK

Leading osteoporosis experts and patient groups in the UK are calling for action to improve patient outcomes and care for women affected by osteoporosis in a new report published last week. The report, Osteoporosis in the UK at Breaking Point, includes new research demonstrating the true effect osteoporosis has on women and the escalating economic impact on National Health Service resources. The report was developed by an expert group of general practitioners, specialist clinicians, nurses, commissioners, professional and patient groups, a think-tank (International Longevity Centre - UK) and supported by US biotechnology firm Amgen and UK drugs giant GlaxoSmithKline.

The new evidence in the report reveals that the number, rate and cost of fractures in the UK amongst women aged over 55 is rising, as is the number of unplanned hospital stays, which has risen by 13% in the last five years. At present, 9% of women who are admitted to hospital with a fracture die without returning home. A newly commissioned survey in the report shows that osteoporosis affects every aspect of daily life, with 65% of women saying they suffer unwanted pain and 43% highlighting the disease’s impact on day-to-day tasks such as housework and gardening.

Baroness Sally Greengross, chief executive of the International Longevity Centre - UK, comments: “As the population ages the number of women with osteoporosis will continue to increase and it is vital that we begin to view this disease as a national priority. Fractures can cause a significant amount of pain, disability and loss of independence for an individual and in many cases can be fatal. The Breaking Point report highlights the immediate need to reduce the impact that osteoporosis has on both patients and the economy through effective and timely disease management.”