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FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
Contact: Lisa Wolfington
410-604-3094
240-620-7934
***MEDIA ADVISORY***
ADVANCES IN OSTEOPOROSIS PREVENTION,
DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT PRESENTED AT 7TH
INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM OF NATIONAL
OSTEOPOROSIS FOUNDATION
Highlights Include Address By HHS
Secretary, Importance of Vitamin D3
Intake, Studies On Predictors of
Falling, New Absolute Fracture Risk
Index, & Pharmaceutical Research
Findings
Washington, DC
– A faculty of internationally-renowned
osteoporosis experts are sharing the
latest information and research about
advances to improve bone health, and
prevent, diagnose and treat osteoporosis
at the 7th International
Symposium on Osteoporosis (ISO): “Translating
Research Into Clinical Practice,”
April 18-22, 2007 at the Marriott
Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC.
Held once every two years, the symposium
is the only scientific meeting in the
U.S. to focus solely on osteoporosis and
bone health across the lifespan.
Conference presenters
will discuss a range of new developments
including the importance of Vitamin D3
intake, use of the Absolute
Fracture Risk index to better identify
those most at risk of fractures, and key
findings from clinical drug trials. U.S.
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Mike Leavitt is scheduled to address
attendees at the meeting on Friday,
April 20 at 8 a.m.
“Osteoporosis is a major
public health threat for more than half
of all Americans over age 50, especially
women who account for eighty percent of
those with the disease,” said Ethel
Siris, MD, president of the National
Osteoporosis Foundation. “Findings
presented at the international meeting
will provide researchers and healthcare
practitioners with vital information and
data about osteoporosis to better
identify people at risk and improve
treatment of those who have the bone
disease.”
“There is an emerging
field of science examining the role of
Vitamin D and its effects on bone
health, balance and falling risks, other
organ systems, cancer prevention and
muscle strength,” said Felicia Cosman,
MD, clinical director of the National
Osteoporosis Foundation. “Seniors who
are deficient in Vitamin D have a higher
risk of falls and osteoporosis, both of
which lead to fractures.”
Another major topic of
discussion will center on the concept of
Absolute Fracture Risk. “The index helps
providers better identify and understand
each patient’s individualized risk of
future fractures. The Absolute Fracture
Risk index is better than using bone
density T scores alone and will focus
treatment on those who are at greatest
risk of osteoporotic fractures,” said
Dr. Siris. The results of several
pharmaceutical research studies will
also be presented at the symposium.
“More than 18 billion
dollars a year is spent on treatment of
fractures resulting from osteoporosis,
and costs are projected to increase
unless more attention is given to
disease prevention,” said Leo
Schargorodski, Executive Director of the
National Osteoporosis Foundation.
“Findings presented at the symposium
will give healthcare providers valuable
new tools in the fight against the
debilitating bone disease.”
One
in two women and one in four men over
age 50 will have an osteoporosis-related
fracture in her/his remaining lifetime.
Osteoporosis affects more than ten
million people in the U.S., eight
million are women and two million are
men.
Osteoporosis is responsible for more
than 1.5 million fractures annually,
including:
-
over
300,000 hip fractures; and
approximately
-
700,000
vertebral fractures;
-
250,000
wrist fractures; and
-
300,000
fractures at other sites.
Established in 1984,
the National Osteoporosis Foundation is
the nation’s leading voluntary health
organization solely dedicated to
osteoporosis and bone health. Our
mission is to prevent osteoporosis, to
promote lifelong bone health, to help
improve the lives of those affected by
osteoporosis and related fractures, and
to find a cure. For more information on
osteoporosis and bone health, contact
NOF online at
www.nof.org
or by telephone (800) 223-9994.
NOF’s Web site,
www.nof.org,
lists key questions and offers
informative brochures that are intended
to assist individuals – young adults,
those at midlife and older adults -- to
discuss good bone health throughout
their lifespan with their healthcare
professional. The site also suggests a
series of questions consumers may want
to pose if they currently have
osteoporosis or if their healthcare
provider believes they are at high risk
for the disease.
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