PAC Looks At Osteoporosis - Our $7b Health Problem, Australia

Main Category: Bones / Orthopaedics
Article Date: 23 Sep 2009 - 3:00 PDT

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Osteoporosis is a major public health problem in Australia which sees, on average, 260 people hospitalised every day with an osteoporotic fracture - or one person every six minutes.

The total annual cost to the community of such hospitalisations as well as the treatment for osteoporosis means the condition costs $7 billion in total.

Osteoporosis is characterised by low bone mass, micro-architectural deterioration of bone, bone fragility and increased risk of fracture.

The rate of incidence is staggering with osteoporotic fractures occurring in 1 in 2 women and 1 in 3 men over the age of 60.

Pharmacists need to understand the condition and how best to treat it and those attending the Pharmacy Australia Congress in October will be able to hear one of the country's leading pharmacy presenters, Professor Peter Carroll, speak on the subject of Osteoporosis - Prevention and Treatment.

Professor Carroll says non-modifiable risk factors for developing osteoporosis include advanced age, being female, early menopause and family history.

Modifiable risk factors include low body weight or slim build, inadequate calcium intake, low Vitamin D levels, sedentary lifestyle, smoking and some medications such as glucocorticoids and anticonvulsants.

"Recent evidence also suggests that therapy with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, proton pump inhibitors or glitazones may increase the risk of fracture," he says.

"Lifestyle issues, adequate calcium intake and appropriate vitamin D levels play a major role in the prevention of osteoporosis, and the role of the pharmacist in counselling patients about these issues will be discussed."

Apart from calcium and vitamin D supplements, medications used in the treatment of osteoporosis include the bisphosphonates, raloxifene, strontium ranelate and teriparatide.

Professor Carroll will examine the place of each of these medications in the treatment of osteoporosis, including their side effect profiles.

The duration of bisphosphonate therapy, as well as bisphosphonate induced osteonecrosis of the jaw, will also be discussed.

This year's PAC in Sydney being held at the Sydney Hilton from 15-18 October under the overarching theme of Securing Your Practice Advantage.

Source
Pharmaceutical Society of Australia