Global Study Reveals Differences in Standard of Care for Osteoporosis Across the World

Barcelona, Spain (ots/PRNewswire) -

- In Europe, Less Screening and Treatment, and an Apparent Higher
Prevalence of Hip Fracture Than in North America and Australia

In a first-of-its-kind study in osteoporosis, one in four women
surveyed from Europe, North America, and Australia reported having
one or more bone fractures since the age of 45 years. Among women
considered to be at high risk for a fracture, only 26% reported use
of bone-saving drugs, with use reported significantly less frequently
in Europe than in North America and Australia. Identifying important
regional differences is just one aim of a landmark observational
study, the Global Longitudinal Registry of Osteoporosis in Women
(GLOW), which will monitor the health of over 60,000 older women
(more than or equal to 55 yrs) worldwide for 5 years. Baseline
results were presented today at the 35th European Symposium on
Calcified Tissues.

For women enrolled in GLOW, fractures after the age of 45 were
more prevalent in Europe than in the United States, Canada and
Australia. For hip fracture specifically, a prior hip fracture was
reported more frequently by women in Europe (2.1%) than by women in
the United States (1.7%) or in Canada/Australia (1.4%). These
potential differences will be further explored in follow-up years of
the study.

"We need to understand the cause for the regional differences we
observe in fracture prevalence," said Dr Robert Lindsay, Professor of
Clinical Medicine at Columbia University and GLOW executive committee
co-chair. "One aim of GLOW is to learn from those countries that are
having the greatest success at preventing fractures and to recommend
best practices that will improve the bone health and lives of
millions of patients around the world."

To be eligible for this multi-national study, a woman had to be
aged 55 years or older and had to have visited a primary care
physician for any health reason in the two years prior to the study.
Since patient recruitment for GLOW was not linked to osteoporosis,
the study is meant to provide a view to the bone health and quality
of care of "typical" community-dwelling women in multiple
geographies.

In Europe, 51% of GLOW participants reported having a bone
density test, a valuable tool for diagnosing osteoporosis. This
contrasts to other geographies where testing frequency was reported
at 79%. Among women considered to be at high risk of fracture, only
20% of European women were taking a bone medication versus 30% of
North American/Australian women.

"Despite reliable screening methods and multiple therapeutic
options being available, osteoporosis remains largely under-diagnosed
and under-treated," said Professor Pierre Delmas, Professor of
medicine and rheumatology at University of Lyon, France, and GLOW
executive committee co-chair. "Without some improvements, the burden
of fractures on our families and on our healthcare systems will only
grow with the aging population."

Osteoporosis-related fractures are an international public health
problem responsible for increased mortality, functional impairment
and additional health care costs(i),(ii). Direct costs of
osteoporotic fractures in Europe alone are expected to rise from
EUR31.7 billion in 2000 to EUR76.7 billion by 2050 (iii). In women
over 45 years of age, osteoporosis accounts for more days spent in a
hospital than diabetes, heart attack or breast cancer(iv).

Hip fractures are the most serious of osteoporosis-related
fractures, causing chronic pain, reduced mobility, disability, loss
of independence and an increased risk of death(i),(ii). An estimated
179,000 men and 711,000 women in Europe suffer a hip fracture each
year(iii).

GLOW is a prospective, longitudinal, observational study of women
55 years of age and older who visited a primary care physician during
the two years prior to the study. Over 60,000 women have been
recruited through 700 primary care physicians in 17 cities in the
United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia. GLOW will gather
information on osteoporosis risk factors, treatment approaches,
patient behaviour, and fracture outcomes with an annual patient
survey over a 5 year period.

Results reported herein are from analysis of approximately 50,200
baseline surveys. Patients were categorized as high risk for fracture
based on a fracture index score of less than or equal to 5, according
to Black et al(v). Bone medications included bishosphonates,
raloxifene, strontium ranelate, parathyroid hormone (1-84),
teriparatide, tibolone, and calcitonin.

GLOW is being conducted by The Center for Outcomes Research
(COR), University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS), with the
support of an unrestricted research grant from The Alliance for
Better Bone Health. The Alliance for Better Bone Health is a
collaboration between sanofi-aventis and Procter & Gamble
Pharmaceuticals.

Available for comment:

Dr. Robert Lindsay

Executive committee co-chair, GLOW, Professor of Clinical
Medicine, Columbia University and Chief of Internal Medicine at Helen
Hayes Hospital, West Haverstraw, NY, USA.

---------------------------------

(i) Osteoporosis in the European Community: A call to action.
Report by the International Osteoporosis Foundation. (c) Copyright
1999-2007 IOF. Accessed 06.02.08, available from http://www.iofbonehe
alth.org/publications/eu-policy-report-of-2001.html

(ii) Keene GS, Parker MJ and Pryor GA. Mortality and morbidity
after hip fractures. BMJ. 1993 (6914):307;1248-50

(iii) Kanis JA and Johnell O. Requirements for DXA for the
management of osteoporosis in Europe. Osteoporosis Int. 2005:16;
229-38

(iv) Kanis JA, Delmas P, Burckhardt P, Cooper C and Torgerson D.
Guidelines for diagnosis and management of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis
Int. 1997:7; 390-406

(v) Black DM, Steinbuch M, Palermo L, et al. An assessment tool
for predicting fracture risk in postmenopausal women. Osteoporosis
Int. 2001:12; 519-528

ots Originaltext: University of Massachusetts Medical School
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
For further information: Helen Crow, Ketchum, Tel:
+44(0)7787-533-023, Email: helen.crow@ketchum.com; Nicki Barwise,
Ketchum, Tel: +44(0)7766-828-849, Email: nicola.barwise@ketchum.com