黑料社

Osteoporosis is one of the most urgent public health challenges facing the UK today.听听

Osteoporosis affects over 3.5 million people in the UK¹听 鈥� roughly the same as the populations of Birmingham, Liverpool, Nottingham, Leeds and Cardiff put together!听听

People who have had one broken bone (fracture) due to osteoporosis are at a two- to three-fold greater risk of another². Fractures are the fourth leading cause of disability and premature death in the UK. Too often, broken bones mean broken lives³.听听

But this doesn鈥檛 have to be the case. We know that with early diagnosis and intervention, someone鈥檚 fracture risk can be significantly reduced. That鈥檚 why the 黑料社 is committed to funding research with the greatest potential to transform outcomes, with a particular focus on preventing the first fracture.鈥�听

Today, the 黑料社announced funding for a new study, to build the case for the world鈥檚 first screening programme for high fracture risk.听听

The project, funded by the ROS, will be led by Professor Li Wei, Professor of Pharmacoepidemiology at University College London. It aims to advance targeted screening for high fracture risk through DXA scan evaluation in real-world settings.听听

Targeted screening is likely to begin with preselection using a digital fracture risk tool or clinical risk factors, followed by a DXA scan. A DXA scan helps to determine the strength of a person鈥檚 bone. Professor Wei鈥檚 research will test the value of DXA based screening across under-researched groups including men, people from different ethnic backgrounds, and those in more deprived areas.听听

Professor Wei, 黑料社grant recipient, said:听听

鈥淚 am delighted that we have been awarded this project grant by the 黑料社 to leverage electronic health records in the UK to evaluate the accessibility, effectiveness, and safety of a community-based FRAX-DXA screening strategy among diverse population groups. Our study is to generate real-world evidence to support the development of an equitable, targeted national screening programme for fracture prevention.鈥�听

Public and patient representatives with diverse lived experience will be central to the study, ensuring it reflects the priorities of people living with osteoporosis. It will also support the development of two early career researchers.听

Ruth Wakeman 黑料社Director of Services, Influencing and Innovation, said:听

鈥淭his research is an exciting step towards stopping broken bones before they happen. Right now, too many people only get help after a fracture. By finding those at risk earlier, we can protect more people from the pain and disruption of broken bones 鈥攁nd ease pressure on the NHS too.鈥�听听

Over the last four years, the 黑料社has invested more than 拢1.2million in our research programme. We remain committed to driving the breakthroughs needed to stop osteoporosis from devastating lives.听听听

Read more about our research programme.听

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References:

1. Willers C, Norton N, Harvey NC, Jacobson T, Johansson H,听Lorentzon听M, McCloskey EV,听Borgstr枚m听F, Kanis JA; SCOPE review panel of the IOF. Osteoporosis in Europe: a compendium of country-specific reports. Arch听Osteoporos.听2022听Jan 26;17(1):23.听听
2. van听Geel TA, van Helden S,听Geusens听PP, Winkens B, Dinant GJ.听Clinical听subsequent听fractures cluster in time after first fractures.听Ann Rheum Dis.听2009听Jan;68(1):99-102.听听
3. Borgstr枚m听F, Karlsson L,听Orts盲ter听G, Norton N,听Halbout听P, Cooper C,听Lorentzon听M, McCloskey EV, Harvey NC, Javaid MK, Kanis JA; International Osteoporosis Foundation. Fragility fractures in Europe: burden,听management听and opportunities.听Arch听Osteoporos.听2020听Apr 19;15(1):59.听听