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Program aims to improve osteoporosis identification, treatment
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The “Own the Bone” program effectively educates patients with osteoporosis who have recently sustained a fragility fracture on measures to seek future treatment, improve bone strength, reduce their risk of future fractures and facilitate conversations with their caregivers.
“The ‘Own the Bone’ program is improving identification and treatment of osteoporosis by educating a high-risk population,” lead researcher William Macaulay, MD, chief of the Division of Adult Reconstructive Surgery of the Hip and Knee in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and director of the Center for Hip and Knee Replacement at Columbia University, told Orthopedics Today.
He presented interim aggregate results of a study on the program at the 2011 Annual Meeting of the American Orthopaedic Association.
More than 2 million fragility fractures occur among older U.S. adults each year. This number is expected to increase due to projections of more than 3 million patients with osteoporosis by 2025, according to the study. In addition, the study authors hold that osteoporosis remains underdiagnosed and undertreated.
At-risk patients
The researchers aimed to identify, evaluate and treat patients aged 50 years and older with fragility fractures who were at risk of osteoporosis, and to coordinate their care among different specialties and physicians through their care.
More than 80 hospitals in 27 states participated in this program. Since the launch of the program in 2009, the researchers have enrolled and educated more than 2,200 patients with fragility fractures, encompassing a total of 4,411 fractures.
Using follow-up questionnaires, Macaulay and colleagues found that use of the “Own the Bone” program helped to prevent future fragility fractures.
Preventing fragility fractures
“Follow-up at 90 days revealed that most had visited their doctor, discussed their fracture and that their doctor had recommended steps to prevent future fractures,” he said.
According to Macaulay, 81% of patients in the study were on at least one medication or supplement for osteoporosis compared to similar studies that have demonstrated a 15% to 20% rate.
Almost 40% had received a bone density test within 3 months of their fracture, according to the study. Patients were proactive about their own care, with more than 55% reporting that they performed strengthening exercises and took steps to prevent falls in their home.
“We are hoping that these results will make this program even more desirable to other providers, hospitals and hospital systems so that it becomes the standard of care across the United States, and we continue to raise awareness about the problem of fragility fracture prevention,” Macaulay said. – by Tara Grassia
Reference:
- Macaulay W, Nyce JD, Bunta A, et al. Own the Bone improves quality of care for osteoporosis patients with fragility fractures. Poster presented at the American Orthopaedic Association 2011 Annual Meeting. June 22-25. Boston.
- William Macaulay, MD, can be reached at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University; 622 W 168th St, PH 1146, New York, NY 10032; 212-305-6959; fax: 212-305-4024; email: wm143@mail.cumc.columbia.edu.
- Disclosure: Macaulay is a member of the Own the Bone Steering Committee of the American Orthopaedic Association.