Half of the patients who have had a fracture osteoporotic will take another 10 years.

-in Spain occur some 25,000 fractures due to osteoporosis annually

-only 25% of patients with osteoporosis meets given therapeutic measures

– one in four women postmenopausal suffers this pathology

Madrid, March of 2013- osteoporosis is a skeletal disease that produces an increase in bone fragility predisposing to an increased risk of fracturesboth is so, 50% of patients who have had a fracture osteoporotic will have another in the 10-year ”, as he has assured Dr. Pilar Bernal Peris, rheumatologist of the Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, during the course of Osteoporosis that Spanish society of Rheumatology has held last weekend in Madrid.

For this reason, in these patients is especially indicated to begin antiosteoporotic treatment ”, says the doctor, who acknowledges that one of the main problems in this rheumatic disease is that despite the large number of fractures occurring each year in our country – estimated 25,000 annual osteoporotic fractures – only 25% of patients with osteoporosis complies with the treatment indicated by your doctor one year after it started ”.

The experts at this meeting, which has counted with the collaboration of Amgen, have coincided in pointing out that with these data, the goal is to improve communication with the patient to ensure greater adherence to treatment. Among the main reasons for the abandonment, is the prolonged duration of the process, the complexity and sometimes discomfort when it comes to managing some of the therapies, and even the fear of some patients that the drugs may cause side effects.

It is estimated that in Spain they can suffer from osteoporosis approximately two million women, reaching a prevalence of 25% in the population of postmenopausal women. In addition, although it is more frequent in women, it is estimated that one in five men over the age of 50 will suffer at least one fracture osteoporotic in his life.

The collaboration between specialists for an early diagnosis

According to recognize Dr. Peris, so advisable a multidisciplinary approach of this pathology, is fundamental collaboration with other specialists, not only in the identification of patients with increased risk of complications associated with this process, especially fractures, but also in his therapeutic approach ”.

In addition, as has been pointed out by Dr. Santos Castañeda Sanz, rheumatologist of the Hospital Universitario La Princesa (Madrid) and President of the society of Rheumatology of the community of Madrid (SORCOM), rheumatologist relate to primary care professionals is key since they are in the first instance those who with his hand in the early detection of persons with risk of fracture due to osteoporosis ”.

Both experts agree that the rheumatologist is since this rheumatic disease reference professional that is highly experienced in the management of osteoporosis, both in the identification of patients at high risk, as in the treatment and management of associated functional limitations.

Must detect fractures of early

For the prevention of fractures, it is essential to develop a strategy that identifies persons with increased risk of fracture to focus on these resources diagnostic and therapeutic, and this is especially important in an environment of finite resources, where they should be placed in the population that can most benefit from them.

In particular, strategy for the prevention of fractures should be based on providing recommendations on healthy habits (physical exercise, diet, not smoking), tips specific for the prevention of falls (especially in older people) and in the individual assessment of fracture risk considering the age, the use of measures of bone mineral density and clinical risk factors ”, specified during the course Dr. Pilar Aguado Acín, rheumatologist of the La Paz University Hospital (Madrid).

In this sense, the bone mineral density (BMD) as measured by DEXA (radiological source dual photon absorptiometry) is a technique that has shown some ability to predict the risk of fracture. Also allows you to explore the anatomical areas where settle fractures epidemiologically relevant osteoporotic (spine and hip), it has a precision that allows an evolutionary control within a reasonable time and the radiation exposure is reasonably low. However, it has as its low sensitivity and low predictive power limitations that make the use of this technique can not be generalized as a screening test.

The expert insisted that identify patients with low bone mass is very important, but to recognize those who are more likely to fracture is more important and also more difficult. We have to focus our efforts on studying what are the predictors of fracture risk more, in order to detect people with a high risk of fracture and initiate measures to prevent this ”, has led Dr. Aguado.

Constant update in Osteoporosis

In this course of Osteoporosis have addressed the latest developments in the field of osteoporosis, which in recent years have been very notable since have been better defined the regulatory mechanisms of bone remodelling, it has increased the available therapeutic arsenal and has been optimized decision-making ”, as explained by the course Coordinator, Dr. Joan Miquel Nolla Sole, a rheumatologist from the University Hospital of Bellvitge (Barcelona).

Aware of this, since the be we remain committed to continuing education in this pathology so that rheumatologists remain the professionals in this area ”, concludes Dr. Nolla.

Spanish society of Reumatology

The Spanish society of Rheumatology (be) aims to work and interact actively and positively with all agents of interest in the field of Rheumatology. To this end, among other activities, encourages the study of rheumatic diseases – diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue-, develops works, studies and research projects in rheumatology and attends the problems related to the specialty. It also provides support to patients of rheumatic diseases through their relationship with associations that comprise mainly to patients. In the area of teaching, the be carries out a wide range of courses in all areas of the Rheumatology and held two symposia monographs and a Congress every year. BE currently represents about 1,600 professionals in Spain and maintains contact with regional societies of Rheumatology of the entire country.