Fragility fractures can be life-changing, often bringing pain, isolation and dependency. Every day, there are almost 10,000 fragility fractures in the EU, and most are among women over the age of 50.
While osteoporosis is more prevalent among women than men, the perception that it affects only women is misguided. Globally, 1 in 2 women and 1 in 5 men aged over 50 will experience a fragility fracture in their lifetime. Fragility fractures are a major cause of preventable deaths and disability, representing a significant economic burden on healthcare systems and societies – and this burden will only increase as populations age.
When osteoporosis is identified early and measures such as lifestyle changes and medication are put in place, further loss of bone density can be slowed or reversed, also reducing the risk of a fragility fracture. Yet people with osteoporosis are too often failed by healthcare systems, and too many preventable fractures occur. Across Europe, almost 70% of women over 70 who have osteoporosis have not been diagnosed, and even after a fracture, as many as 60–85% do not receive treatment to prevent subsequent fractures from occurring.
Osteoporosis and fragility fractures are a major public health issue. Lifelong prevention, timely intervention and appropriate multidisciplinary management can protect people from developing osteoporosis and minimise their risk of a fracture, improving quality of life for millions of people.
HPP established five building blocks of an effective policy response to the challenge posed by osteoporosis and fragility fractures. We started with desk research and assembled a Working Group and Parliamentary Forum of European experts and policymakers. The groups met at two round-table events in 2019, in London and Brussels, to discuss the research and develop a policy toolkit. HPP also interviewed a range of experts, including carer representatives, healthcare professionals and healthy ageing advocates.
This work culminated in Osteoporosis and fragility fractures: a policy toolkit, with a call to action for policymakers working at the European, national and regional levels. The toolkit includes case studies of best practice, supporting resources for policymakers and ten individual country profiles: Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania, Spain and the UK. HPP also produced a video to support the launch of the toolkit, featuring experts from the project’s Working Group and Parliamentary Forum.
We created infographics and social media content for each of the ten countries, produced in the local language, to help promote the work.
Following the launch of the policy toolkit, several of the experts involved agreed to become members of a new Osteoporosis and Fragility Fracture Policy Network. HPP runs the secretariat, including the dedicated website, and has led events such as a policy round table and a pre-recorded symposium session at the virtual World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (WCO-IOF-ESCEO 2020).
In 2021, we added new country profiles and infographics for four additional countries: Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece and Portugal. Our work with the Network continues.
Working Group and Parliamentary Forum:
Experts who were interviewed and those who provided review, feedback and/or comments on drafts:
Experts interviewed for country profiles:
This project was initiated and funded by Amgen (Europe) GmbH.