Welcome!
Dear Colleagues,
We are pleased to introduce the new Osteoporosis in the EU newsletter, published by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF). This will be a quarterly newsletter designed to keep you up to date on activities and accomplishments on the fight against osteoporosis in the EU.
I thank you for being a part of our group of thoughtful and committed people and I hope that we can count on your support as we continue our efforts to achieve our ambitious Vision of a ‘World Without Osteoporotic Fracture’. We are proud of the work that we have done this year, and look forward to next year’s exciting challenges.
We look forward to receiving your feedback on the newsletter and to hearing from you for remarks, suggestions or questions regarding osteoporosis activities in the EU. In addition, as 2009 is coming to an end, all members of the Osteoporosis Consultation Panel and IOF staff join us to send you Holidays greetings and best wishes for the New Year.
Sincerely,
Prof. Juliet Compston,
Chair, EU Osteoporosis Consultation Panel
Osteoporosis in the European Union: an increasing burden
| Osteoporosis is one of the most common, debilitating, and costly chronic diseases in Europe. Osteoporosis is a disease in which the density and quality of bone are reduced. As the bones become more porous and fragile, the risk of fracture is greatly increased. Often there are no signs or symptoms until the first fracture occurs, and once a fracture has occurred there is a fivefold chance that another will occur within the next year, without treatment.
Osteoporosis affects 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men over the age of 50. In the EU, someone has a fracture as a result of osteoporosis every 8 seconds, and with an ageing population, the yearly incidence of hip fracture alone in the EU is expected to more than double over the next 50 years, placing an enormous burden on health care.
Osteoporosis is now a largely treatable condition and, with a combination of lifestyle changes and appropriate medical treatment, many fractures can be prevented. Timely access to diagnosis and therapeutic options remain essential in preventing the fracture cascade. |
MEP Anja Weisgerber (Germany)
MEP Mary Honeyball (UK)
|
The European Parliament Osteoporosis Interest Group welcomes its new co-chair
The EP Osteoporosis Interest Group is an informal, all-party group founded in 2001 to stimulate policy developments at both national and European levels by increasing political awareness about osteoporosis, participating in policy activities, and supporting relevant legislation.
MEP Angelika Niebler (Germany), co-chair of the Interest Group since 2001, was called to other duties, and has been replaced by MEP Anja Weisgerber (Germany). Ms Weisgerber was elected to the European Parliament in 2004 and has since been an active member of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety. IOF and the Consultation Panel warmly thank Ms Niebler for her dedication and support, and welcome Ms Weisgerber!
We are also pleased to announce that MEP Mary Honeyball (UK) will continue as co-chair of the Osteoporosis Interest Group, and thank her for her continuous commitment.
8th meeting of the European Osteoporosis Consultation Panel in Brussels
| Since 2001, the EU Osteoporosis Consultation Panel (see members) brings together policy makers and osteoporosis experts from the 27 member states.
Their mandate is to work with stakeholders at both national and EU levels to implement practical, cost-effective strategies to improve access to diagnosis and proven therapies before the first fracture. |
Dr Eduardo Fernandez Zincke, member of cabinet EU Commissioner for Health
Prof. Juliet Compston, Chair of the EU Osteoporosis Consultation Panel,
Prof. John Kanis, IOF president
|
The 8th EU Osteoporosis Consultation Panel meeting took place on 7 October 2009 in Brussels, with 34 participants from 15 EU countries, including representatives from the European Parliament Osteoporosis Interest Group and from the EU Commissioner for Health. Participants agreed on a common strategy to build on work accomplished during the past ten years, and to raise osteoporosis higher on the EU’s public health agenda.
See meeting report
World Osteoporosis Day 2009
On October 20, 2009, IOF member societies carried out an impressive array of events to raise awareness among the general public and health professionals as well as policy makers. The 2009 World Osteoporosis Day ‘Stand Tall’ theme calls on government health officials across all regions to recognize osteoporosis as a health priority and spread the message that more needs to be done by national governments and health insurers to promote early detection and offer reimbursement of appropriate therapy for those with osteoporosis.
Roma, Italy
IOF CEO Patrice Mckenney spoke at a high-profile event held at the Chamber of Deputies in the Italian parliament in Rome, in the presence of the Deputy Minister of Labour, Health and Social Policies. Moderated by a prize-winning journalist, this prestigious event was co-hosted by F.I.R.M.O (Fondazione Raffaella Becagli), IOF and O.N.D.A (National Observatory for Women's Health).
Berlin, Germany
The Bundesselbsthilfeverband für Osteoporose e.V., in cooperation with IOF and Dachverband Osteologie e.V. – DVO, held its 9th Patient Congress for World Osteoporosis Day. Special program highlights included the first German Women Leaders Roundtable under the motto ‘Powerful women against osteoporosis – its time to take action’. Leading national politicians and policy officials participated at the roundable, as did IOF COO Judy Stenmark.
|
|
Issue 1, December 2009
| Commissioner Vassiliou supports the fight against osteoporosis |
| On World Osteoporosis Day, the EU Commissioner for Health, Androulla Vassiliou, sent a message of support and commitment to the millions of people suffering from osteoporosis in the EU. |
 |
In light of the increasingly larger proportion of older people in the EU population, Vassiliou stated that "osteoporosis will become an increasing burden in the coming years with the yearly number of hip fractures alone, expected to more than double over the next 50 years."
The Commissioner stressed that “osteoporosis must remain a major health priority for all of us“and urged that action be taken in regard to modifiable risk factors for osteoporosis. See her message!
|
| Are you at risk? |
Are you among the 1 in 3 women, and the 1 in 5 men who will be affected by osteoporosis? Take the IOF One-Minute Osteoporosis Risk Test and find out if you are at risk:
http://www.iofbonehealth.org/patients-public/risk-test.html
|
| Key reference documents |
 |
Osteoporosis in the European Community, 1998
|
Published in 1998, this landmark publication catalyzed action throughout Europe. It provided information on the epidemiology of osteoporosis and risk factors and outlined eight specific recommendations for prevention of fractures and for the management of patients.
 |
Osteoporosis in the European Union, 2008
|
Published in 2008, it provides a snapshot of the progress and challenges in osteoporosis management in the EU.
|
| Upcoming events |
10 March 2010
Strasbourg EU Parliament: MEP Anja Weisgerber will host a luncheon to introduce the Osteoporosis Interest Group to all MEPs interested in joining the group (more information will follow).
Please contact MEP Weisgerber
(anja.weisgerber@europarl.eurpa.eu)
|
| World Osteoporosis Day 2009 |
  
|
| More Info |
www.iofbonehealth.org
QUESTIONS, REMARKS, NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION?
Contact Victoria Monti, Policy Manager vmonti@iofbonehealth.org |
|
