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Osteoporosis a Silent Disease That’s on the Rise:
Doctors Urge Public Awareness to Avoid Increase in Bone Fractures, Hospitalization

Data collected at Southlake Regional Health Centre shows
decline in progression of disease with proper awareness, treatment

Newmarket, Ontario - September 3, 2008 - As the baby boom population grows, so does the incidence of osteoporosis, a chronic disease resulting from a decline in bone density that causes an increased risk of fractures and a drain on the healthcare system.  Now, doctors at Southlake Regional Health Centre, which runs one of the leading osteoporosis programs in the country, are urging the public to get informed about this “silent” disease which often goes undetected, and therefore, untreated.

“Many people have osteoporosis and don’t even know it until they sustain a fracture – often the hip or spine, which is debilitating and sometimes fatal,” said Dr. Edward Ng, Rheumatologist at Newmarket-based Southlake Regional Health Centre, adding that 1.4 million Canadians – or one in four women and one in eight men over the age of 50 – suffer from the disease, incurring costs of about $1.3 billion per year to treat.

“These numbers could be decreased dramatically if people took a proactive approach by getting checked for the disease and taking effective measures to prevent or treat it,” Dr. Ng said, emphasizing that data collected at Southlake Regional Health Centre shows the majority of patients experienced a lack of decline or even improvement in bone density through a balance of proper diet, exercise and taking medication as prescribed.

Studies show that of those who suffer from osteoporosis, 40 per cent of women and 25 per cent of men will fracture a bone. Risk reduction measures include talking to your family doctor about your genetic predisposition to the disease, having a bone mineral density test, doing effective weight-bearing exercises, making lifestyle changes and getting enough calcium and vitamin D daily (1,200-1,500 milligrams of calcium and 1,000 international units of vitamin D for adults), added Dr. Ng.

In screening more than 12,000 Canadians over the age of 50, however,  Osteoporosis Canada found that  62 per cent of respondents said they thought osteoporosis couldn’t be prevented. The organization is now working with Southlake Regional Health Centre and other selected hospitals across Ontario to screen for and identify at-risk patients in fracture clinics and guide them toward effective treatment.

“We’re targeting anyone 50 years of age and older who has a suspicious fracture, particularly those sustained from a minor fall or low trauma injury,” said Dr. Barbara Beauchamp, Area Manager, York Region Osteoporosis Strategy for Osteoporosis Canada, adding that her organization is working to change the long-held perception of osteoporosis as being an “old lady’s” disease, given that it affects men as well. “The goal is to gather information about the patient’s genetic history and lifestyle, and guide them towards help from there, starting with their family doctor.”

To manage the growing number of osteoporosis sufferers, Southlake Regional Health Centre has created Canada’s first integrated osteoporosis program that brings together an interdisciplinary team of rheumatologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, kinesiologists, pharmacists and dietitians, who work closely with family physicians.  The program provides patients with comprehensive treatment under one roof, including regular clinics, educational workshops and exercise programs.

While osteoporosis generally surfaces in the over-50 population, specialists emphasize that the natural decline in bone mass starts in early adulthood.  “People’s peak bone mass occurs in their mid-20s, so parents must help their kids maintain good bone health up until then by making sure they get enough calcium, vitamin D and physical activity,” Dr. Ng said.

For more information about osteoporosis and Southlake's Osteoporosis Program, please visit Southlake Regional or www.osteoporosis.ca.

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