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SINGAPORE - Media OutReach - 28 October 2018 – Osteoporosis
Society (Singapore) held a public educational event on 28 October 2018 (Sunday)
from 1pm to 4pm at Our Tampines Hub. More than 600 participants turned up at
the event to interact with doctors and nurses about bone health, while 320 of
them who were more active managed to set the Singapore’s Book of Record for the
largest mass Otago exercise.
Event details:
Date: 28 October 2018 (Sunday)
Time: 1pm to 4pm
Venue: Our Tampines Hub, Central Plaza
(opposite hawker centre at Level 1)
Address: 1 Tampines Walk, Singapore 528523
Singapore has the highest
incidence rate of hip fractures in Asia Pacific, with rates increasing up to
five times over the past 30 years.[1] 27%
of patients with hip fracture die within a year and almost 40% experience
reduced mobility.3 Despite these findings, not many people in
Singapore are aware about the seriousness of fractures, putting them at risk of
future fractures.
This event was organized to
raise the awareness for Osteoporosis among Singaporeans. Activities on the
event day were aligned to bone health, including the following:
“The risk of osteoporotic
fractures CAN be reduced” said Dr. Chionh Siok Bee, president of the
Osteoporosis Society, Singapore (OSS). “Whatever age you are, you should take a
diet rich in calcium and vitamin D, and exercise regularly, to build up and
maintain your “bone bank”. However, if you already have Osteoporosis diagnosed
from a DXA bone mineral density scan, or have already broken a bone, you should
consult your doctor about taking medications which can reduce your risk of
fracture by 30-70%, as calcium and Vitamin D pills, diet and exercise alone
won’t be enough. We must banish the myth that breaking bones is a normal part
of ageing.”
It’s
Not Just Bones that Break
Failure
to prevent fragility fractures has serious social and economic implications for
patients, their families and society, including loss of independence and
premature confinement to aged care facilities.
Following
a fragility fracture, many lose mobility and independence:
A
Failure to Connect
Despite the great extent to
which the lives of patients and their families are impacted by fractures, a
recent survey3 — conducted in patients with previous fractures — showed
that patients in Asia Pacific, including Singapore, have a limited
understanding of fragility fractures and osteoporosis as an underlying cause,
as well as increased risks of another fracture after the first one.
Almost 40% of fracture patients
in Asia Pacific were unaware that they are at risk of having another fracture.[2] However,
research shows that once a patient suffers a fragility fracture, the risk of a
future fracture increases up to 10 times.1
Public
Awareness Critical
Fight
the Fracture aims
to highlight the seriousness of fractures, its link to osteoporosis and empower
patients and their caregivers to proactively prevent fractures. As part of the
campaign, tools and resources have been developed to help patients assess their
fracture risks. Hosted on the campaign’s website, these resources are intended
to encourage patients to initiate a conversation with their doctors on ways to
prevent a fracture from happening again. Further details on this and other
osteoporosis-related public events can be found on www.osteoporosis.sg.
About Amgen
Amgen is committed to
unlocking the potential of biology for patients suffering from serious
illnesses by discovering, developing, manufacturing and delivering innovative
human therapeutics. This approach begins by using tools like advanced human
genetics to unravel the complexities of disease and understand the fundamentals
of human biology.
Amgen focuses on areas of
high unmet medical need and leverages its expertise to strive for solutions
that improve health outcomes and dramatically improve people’s lives. A
biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen has grown to be one of the world’s
leading independent biotechnology companies, has reached millions of patients
around the world and is developing a pipeline of medicines with breakaway
potential.
For more information, visit www.amgen.com and follow on https://twitter.com/amgen.
About the Osteoporosis Society (Singapore)
OSS is a charity
organisation which aims to improve the awareness, prevention and management of
Osteoporosis and its attendant problem of fragility fractures.
About Fragility Fractures and Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis affects both men and women.[3] Osteoporosis is a
condition that weakens bone over time, making them thinner, more brittle and
more likely to break.11 As a result, the skeleton becomes fragile,
so that even a slight bump or fall can lead to a broken bone ? referred to as a
fragility fracture.[4]
Fractures most often occur in the hip,
spine, arm, wrist, ribs, legs and pelvis.[5] Fractures are expensive to
treat, and disabling to the lives of those affected.13 Moreover,
fractures are associated with heightened risk of death.[6]
Osteoporosis can significantly compromise quality of life,
leading to loss of independence, chronic pain, disability, emotional distress,
lost productivity and reduced social interaction.13 There is no cure
for osteoporosis, however steps can be taken to help prevent, slow, or halt its
progression and prevent fractures.14
Risk factors for osteoporosis
include age, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, previous broken bones, a
family history of osteoporosis and low body weight.[7]
Osteoporosis may be managed with anti-osteoporotic medication,
weight-bearing exercise, adequate calcium intake and vitamin D exposure
(sunlight and/or supplements are often required).14
References
[1]
International
Osteoporosis Foundation. The Asia-Pacific Regional Audit: Epidemiology, costs
and burden of osteoporosis. 2013.
[2]
Fight the Fracture-IOF Survey. Patients Regional Report.
[3]
International Osteoporosis Foundation. What Is Osteoporosis? 2015. Available
at: http://www.iofbonehealth.org/what-is-osteoporosis (Last accessed Sep 2017)
[4]
International Osteoporosis Foundation. Capture the Fracture: A Global Campaign
to Break the Fragility Fracture Cycle. 2012. Available at: https://www.iofbonehealth.org/capture-fracture
(Last accessed Sep 2017)
[5]
International Osteoporosis Foundation. Gaps and Solutions in Bone Health: A
Global Framework for Improvement. Available at: http://share.iofbonehealth.org/WOD/2016/thematic-report/WOD16-report-WEB-EN.pdf (Last accessed Sep 2017)
[6] International
Osteoporosis Foundation. Treating Osteoporosis. Available at: http://www.iofbonehealth.org/treating-osteoporosis
(Last accessed Sep
2017)
[7]
International Osteoporosis Foundation. Who’s at Risk? 2015. Available at: http://www.iofbonehealth.org/whos-risk (Last accessed Sep 2017)
10 Osnes EK, Lofthus CM, Meyer HE, et al. Consequences of
hip fracture on activities of daily life and residential needs. Osteoporos Int.
Jul 2004;15(7):567-574.
11 Magaziner J, Simonsick EM, Kashner TM, Hebel JR,
Kenzora JE. Predictors of functional recovery one year following hospital
discharge for hip fracture: a prospective study. J Gerontol. May
1990;45(3):M101-107.
12 Cooper C. The crippling consequences of fractures and
their impact on quality of life. Am J Med. Aug 18 1997;103(2A):12S-17S;
discussion 17S-19S.
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