Osteoporosis Screening Trial Begins, UK

Main Category: Bones / Orthopaedics
Also Included In: Clinical Trials / Drug Trials
Article Date: 21 Dec 2007 - 3:00 PDT

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The Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Arthritis Research Campaign (arc) are set to fund a clinical trial of osteoporosis screening that will involve groups of women from all over England. Researchers at the University of Southampton, in collaboration with clinical scientists at the universities of East Anglia, Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, York and Sheffield, have received £4.13 million from the MRC and arc to fund a seven-year trial called Screening of Older Women for Prevention of Fracture (SCOOP). More than 11,000 women will participate in the SCOOP trial making it one of the largest studies of osteoporosis worldwide.

Osteoporosis leads to around 200,000 fractures each year in the UK, 86,000 of which are debilitating hip fractures. These breaks not only adversely affect the lives of those who suffer them, but cost health and social services around £1.7 billion per annum.

Most people are only diagnosed with osteoporosis and given treatment for the condition after they have had fracture. In some cases these fractures are life-threatening; around 20 per cent of those who suffer a hip fracture die within a year. Therefore early diagnosis and prevention could have huge benefits.

The SCOOP study, which begins in January 2008, will recruit women aged 70-85 years from local communities close to the seven universities involved. Participants will be divided into two groups: a screening group and a control group. Those in the screening group will have their risk of fracture assessed through a combination of self-reported risk factors (e.g. family history of fracture; steroid use; smoking and heavy alcohol consumption; previous history of osteoporotic fracture) and in some cases, a bone density scan. If appropriate, the participants' GP will then prescribe a course of fracture-risk-reducing bisphosphonate drugs to combat bone thinning. Recent studies suggest these drugs can reduce fracture risk by around 50 per cent.

The control women will receive 'usual care'. Both groups will be studied for five years and the number of fractures occurring in each will be compared.

Lead Southampton investigator Professor Cyrus Cooper, Director of the MRC Epidemiology Resource Centre, based at the University of Southampton, explained: "Osteoporosis is usually diagnosed using a DXA bone density scan, that's images allow the strength of bone to be assessed. At the moment, women offered a scan are mainly those who have already suffered a fracture or are suspected by their GP to be at high risk. Given the magnitude of the public health problem, and the novel WHO approach to evaluating individual risk, a widespread and systematic screening programme could cost-effectively prevent fractures."

Claire Severgnini, Chief Executive of the National Osteoporosis Society, said: "The NOS is extremely pleased to see that research into osteoporosis is becoming prioritised. This study is likely to have a huge impact for those who have osteoporosis as well as for future generations. We are delighted to offer our on-going support to this project".

Medical Research Council