Global Problem of Adherence to Osteoporosis Treatment Puts Lives at Risk and Costs Billions

Global Problem of Adherence to Osteoporosis Treatment Puts Lives at Risk and Costs Billions

VIENNA, Austria, May 22/PRNewswire/ --

Not for Distribution in Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, UK, US & Canada

- International Osteoporosis Foundation and Film Star Britt Ekland call
for Urgent Action With Staying Power Campaign Launch

A new report from the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) details
for the first time the global implications and significant personal, social
and economic costs associated with women not staying on their osteoporosis
treatment.

(Photo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060522/213166 )

Approximately half of patients stop taking their weekly treatment within
a year,(1,2) leaving them open to a greater risk of broken bones and
increasing the strain on financially-strapped healthcare systems. The report
signals the launch of the IOF Staying Power: Closing the Adherence Gap in
Osteoporosis campaign, which seeks to highlight the true burden of
non-adherence.

Implications of not staying on treatment

Osteoporosis is a widespread disease affecting one woman in three and one
man in five(3,4,5). It is treatable, yet lack of adherence to treatment is a
huge problem in osteoporosis, with many patients finding it difficult to
continue with medication for the recommended long-term period. This lack of
adherence is important for people with osteoporosis, since fewer than one
third of women who experience a fracture will regain their previous level of
mobility and over a third will require constant care(6).

It also has a significant financial impact since, in Europe alone,
osteoporosis now costs more than EUR4.8 billion a year in hospital
healthcare(7) - and unless the fracture rate is reduced these costs are
likely to increase still further. In women over 45, osteoporosis accounts
for more days spent in hospital than many other diseases, including
diabetes, heart attack and breast cancer(8).

European trends extend worldwide with huge economic cost

The Staying Power dossier builds on a 2005 IOF report, The
Adherence Gap: Why Osteoporosis Patients Don't Continue with Treatment, which
identified lack of adherence in five large European countries. The new report
shows that the European pattern of non-adherence extends throughout the
world.

- By 2050 the worldwide cost burden is forecasted to increase to a
minimum of EUR106 billion (US$131.5 billion)(9)

- Over half of Brazilian physicians questioned in a new survey, included
in the dossier, estimated the annual cost of treating osteoporosis-related
fractures to be in excess of EUR81 million (US$100 million)(10)

- In the UK the annual cost of osteoporotic fractures is between EUR2.2 -
EUR2.6 billion (GBP1.5 - GBP1.8 billion)(11)

- In Spain 25,000 fractures occur each year, resulting in direct costs of
more than EUR126 million and indirect costs of EUR420 million(12)

- During 2001-2003, an estimated 2.39 million osteoporosis fractures
occurred in the USA, resulting in government health insurance costs of EUR10
billion (US$13 billion)(13)

- In Australia, musculoskeletal disorders amount to an estimated total
expenditure of EUR1.8 billion (AUS $3 billion)(14)

Staying Power campaign launched

International film star Britt Ekland, who has osteoporosis , joined IOF
representatives today in Vienna to launch the Staying Power campaign. This
multi-dimensional campaign calls for women, doctors and patient groups around
the world to work together in their efforts to help women stay on their
treatment long-term and lessen the risk of unnecessary, debilitating broken
bones.

Ms Ekland, known for her role in films such as Get Carter and the James
Bond film The Man With the Golden Gun commented: "I have had osteoporosis for
ten years and I urge all women with osteoporosis to seek advice from their
doctor and local patient groups in order to understand what treatments are
available and how best to stay on therapy."

Staying on treatment is recognised as a major problem in the management
of many chronic diseases, including osteoporosis. Ms Ekland continued: "I am
aware of the profound impact osteoporosis can have on everyday activities
and, whilst I have been fortunate enough to continue leading an active life,
many women are not so lucky. Staying on treatment could mean avoiding a life
of decreased mobility, chronic pain, deformity and low self-esteem."

The issue of adherence is important because once a bone breaks, patients
are significantly more likely to break another(15,16). With an ageing global
population, the number of people suffering from osteoporosis is likely to
increase in coming years, making it even more important to help patients get
the bone strengthening benefits their treatment can only provide over time.

Professor Jean-Yves Reginster, Professor of Epidemiology, Public Health
and Health Economics at the University of Liege, Belgium and IOF General
Secretary said: "The social and economic costs of women not staying on their
treatment simply cannot be sustained. Doctors, women and patient groups must
all work together now to combat this situation. Ensuring osteoporosis
treatments are more 'patient-friendly' is crucial and there are new options
available, including less frequent dosing, which can help."

Paul Spencer Sochaczewski, Head of Communications for IOF echoed these
thoughts: "The adherence issue needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency.
Through the Staying Power campaign, IOF calls for action from people with
osteoporosis, physicians, patient groups and government healthcare systems to
address the worrying findings published in the report issued today. As a
starting point, IOF will bring together its member patient groups later this
year to discuss adherence, identify workable solutions and implement them as
quickly as possible. We urge anyone involved in the field of osteoporosis to
give this issue similar focus."

For further details of the campaign, and to download a copy of the
dossier, please visit the Staying Power section of the IOF website:
www.osteofound.org/stayingpower.

Osteoporosis, in which the bones become porous and break easily, is one
of the world's most common and debilitating diseases. The result: pain, loss
of movement, inability to perform daily chores, and in many cases, death. One
out of three women over 50 will experience osteoporotic fractures, as will
one out of five men(3,4,5).

Unfortunately, screening for people at risk is far from being a standard
practice. Osteoporosis can, to a certain extent, be prevented, it can be
easily diagnosed and effective treatments are available.

The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) is the only
worldwide organization dedicated to the fight against osteoporosis. It brings
together scientists, physicians, patient societies and corporate partners.
Working with its 170 member societies in 84 locations, and other
healthcare-related organizations around the world, IOF encourages awareness
and prevention, early detection and improved treatment of osteoporosis.

For more information on osteoporosis and IOF please visit:

www.osteofound.org

The Staying Power report and related activities are supported by an
unrestricted educational grant from Roche and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). There
are many medically-proven treatments for osteoporosis. The International
Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) does not endorse or recommend any specific
treatment. Such decisions must be made by the physician and patient.

References are available on request.

Photo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060522/213166

Source: International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF)

For more information including photographs from the launch event and interviews with Britt Ekland, Professor Jean-Yves Reginster and Paul Spencer Sochaczewski, please contact: Emily Brooks, Virgo HEALTH PR, +44-(0)20-8939-2462; Lisa Rodwell, Virgo HEALTH PR, +44-(0)20-8939-2467. For more information on osteoporosis and IOF please contact: Paul Spencer Sochaczewski, Head of Communications +41-22-994-0100 psochaczewski@osteofound.org or visit: www.osteofound.org

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