Author/affiliations:
Fatma Özge Kayhan Koçak MD ECG Bakırçay University Çiğli Education and Research Hospital, İzmir, Turkiye
As a reporters of the ECGI, I assisted with Sibel Çavdar onsite to the World Congress on Osteoporosis osteoarthritis and musculoskeletal disease 2023 presented by the International Osteoporosis foundation (IOF) and the European society for clinical and economic aspects of osteoporosis (ESCEO) that took place in Barcelona between the 4th and 7th of May. With 7611 participants, this congress proved that bone and muscle health is attracting a great deal of attention from health professionals.
Prior to the opening ceremony, the World Health Organization, in partnership with ESCEO, announced a five-year project to improve the management of osteoporosis worldwide. This action plan includes the collection of global data on osteoporosis, fractures and fracture risk, the cost-effectiveness of interventions to prevent fractures and treat osteoporosis, and investment in public health interventions. Professor Cyrus Cooper then spoke in detail at the opening ceremony about the importance of ‘capture the fracture’ partnership around worldwide and a new patient-centric website to help build better bones. Capture the Fracture (CTF) is a multi-stakeholder initiative launched by the International Osteoporosis Foundation to facilitate the implementation of coordinated, multidisciplinary care models for secondary fracture prevention. It provides recognition, resources, training and tools to support Post-Fracture Care Coordination Programs (Fracture Liaison Services) worldwide (https://www.capturethefracture.org/).
The most prominent theme of the congress is the "high fracture risk". Prof McClung mentioned in his presentation that intermittent bisphosphonate therapy is an appropriate strategy for patients at moderate fracture risk, but it may be a cost-effective way to prevent osteoporosis in young, high-risk menopausal women. Also, Prof Eugene McCloskey described high fracture risk as crime, and sufficient therapy as the punishment, and mentioned that for those at highest risk of fracture, first line bone-forming treatment is the most appropriate intervention, and that early treatment with the most effective therapy will prevent further fractures.
Another topic of interest to geriatricians was, of course, sarcopenia. Prof Fielding emphasized the need for a globally accepted definition of sarcopenia and announced that the new paper on the elements that need to be included in a conceptual definition by the Global Leadership in Sarcopenia (GLIS) Steering Committee is expected in late 2023.
The risk of falls and fall-related fractures is known to increase with osteoporosis. Prof Dawson-Hughes drew attention to the high number of fall-related injuries and deaths from a global perspective and announced a new global guideline for the prevention and management of falls in older adults. Using this algorithm, identifying the older individual’s risk factors, promoting a tailored exercise program that includes balance and strength exercises and maintaining vitamin D levels in the range of 20-40 ng/ml is extremely important to prevent falls in older people.
Finally, this effective and enjoyable congress was a good opportunity to learn about the latest developments in bone and muscle health. So, I would recommend all health professionals interested in osteoporosis and muscle disease to attend the next one in London.
