Partnering together from afar: Improving outcomes for people living with osteoporosis

This years’ World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (WCO-IOF-ESCEO) is set to take place virtually on 20-23 August. While it is not the ‘live’ stage many had initially anticipated, the virtual congress is a fantastic opportunity to connect with the osteoporosis community and share insights into the latest advances in bone health from around the world.

In today’s current climate, the importance of continuing to connect from afar extends beyond congresses. Recently, UCB announced a new collaboration with the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) to support its Capture the Fracture^® program which aims to combat the global public health burden of osteoporosis by reducing the incidence of hip and vertebral fractures by 25% by 2025.

Osteoporosis is a serious chronic condition that weakens bone over time, making them thinner and more likely to break. We are fortunate though, that there are steps patients and healthcare providers can take to reduce fracture risk. Despite these resources, even after an osteoporosis-related fracture, approximately, 80% of individuals at high risk are still not identified or treated. Capture the Fracture, a global IOF initiative, now supported by UCB and Amgen and in collaboration with the University of Oxford, aims to proactively implement post-fracture care (PFC) coordination programs in hospitals and healthcare systems to help patients prevent subsequent fractures due to osteoporosis.

This partnership also welcomes collaboration from existing fracture prevention coalitions on international, regional, and national levels to drive fracture prevention policy change and prioritization. Additional aims of the partnership include developing and implementing efficiencies and best practice sharing across PFC program sites, creating digital platforms to track and share PFC effectiveness, and providing virtual and in-person mentorship and learning opportunities for healthcare providers.

By continuing to connect, partner and collaborate with organizations and experts around the world, even virtually, UCB hopes to tackle a significant healthcare issue that has been overlooked for too long, and deliver better support and outcomes for people living with the osteoporosis.

For more information about Capture the Fracture, please visit http://www.capturethefracture.org.