Last Sunday, October 20, 2024, members of the Asia Pacific Consortium on Osteoporosis (APCO) celebrated World Osteoporosis Day (WOD). This annual global campaign, coordinated by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), aims to raise much-needed awareness of the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of osteoporosis and fragility fractures.

This year’s IOF World Osteoporosis Day (WOD) campaign, “Say No to Fragile Bones” unites patients and healthcare professionals in the fight against osteoporosis. With the Asia Pacific’s ageing population, urbanization, and sedentary trends, 319 million people over 50 are projected to be at high risk of fractures by 2044. WOD offers a vital platform to drive awareness and promote early action against this growing health crisis. It was truly inspiring to see APCO members actively championing the critical need for early osteoporosis detection and treatment was truly inspiring.

Keep reading to learn how some of our APCO members representing 23 countries and regions throughout the Asia Pacific, celebrated this important occasion – namely Australia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore and Sri Lanka.

Australia
To celebrate WOD 2024, Healthy Bones Australia, led by APCO Executive Committee member, Dr Greg Lyubomirsky, released a new Burden of Disease report at a special event hosted at Parliament House in Canberra on October 10, 2024. The report outlines the prevalence and cost of osteoporosis In Australia for the coming decade and highlights the urgent need for early diagnosis and funding for prevention strategies.

The report launch event was attended by federal politicians including The Hon Kate Thwaites MP, Assistant Minister for Ageing and Women, former Olympic and World Champion Sally Pearson OAM, patient advocate Carole David and leading experts Professor Peter Ebeling AO and Professor Peter Wong. It was also covered broadly by media coverage on television news networks, online news and radio reports. Healthy Bones Australia’s new Burden of Disease report included below key findings;

• 6.2 million (67 per cent) Australians aged 50+ years are living with poor bone health
• In 2023 in Australia, a fracture was sustained every 2.7 minutes resulting in more than 193,000 fractures, by 2033 this will increase to a fracture every 30 seconds
• The total cost of osteopenia and osteoporosis equated to AUD $4.8 billion (2023) and is estimated to climb to AUD $8.3 billion per year (by 2033)

Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, the Osteoporosis Society of Hong Kong organised the 24th Regional Osteoporosis Conference (ROC 2024) to commemorate WOD 2024. Conference included talks discussing osteoporosis in children, multidisciplinary care of an osteoporotic patient including recent updates in osteoporosis management.

APCO member, Dr Lui Tak Wai David, was invited to deliver on the topic ‘Bone Fragility in Diabetes’ which aimed to improve clinicians’ awareness to assess and optimize bone health in people with type 2 diabetes. Dr Lui discussed the scope of the problem about fragility fractures in type 2 diabetes, including local and global epidemiology of fragility fractures related to type 2 diabetes and their clinical consequences, diabetes-specific risk factors, pathophysiology, and management of bone fragility in type 2 diabetes. Dr Lui emphasized the need for concerted efforts to close the gap in the fracture risk related to diabetes.

India
In commemoration of WOD, the Department of Endocrinology at PGIMER, in collaboration with the Indian Society of Bone Mineral Research, successfully organized a free osteoporosis screening camp at Sector 22 Dispensary. APCO Executive Committee member, Prof. Sanjay Bhadada, who also heads the Department of Endocrinology, at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), remarked, “Osteoporosis is a silent disease, but its consequences can be severe. Our goal through such camps is to increase awareness, encourage early diagnosis, and guide patients in preventive measures to maintain bone health.”

The initiative, supported by Mr Prince Bandola, aimed to raise awareness and provide crucial diagnostic services to the community. Approximately 100 individuals underwent DEXA scans to assess bone health, with a few patients also availing mammography services. The results revealed that 10 percent of the screened population were found to have osteoporosis, underscoring the need for early detection and intervention. All patients received personalized medical consultations from the PGIMER Endocrinology team. Following the screenings, around 150 individuals attended a health talk focused on the importance of fall prevention, a critical factor in reducing the risk of fractures in osteoporosis patients. The event reflects PGIMER’s ongoing commitment to promoting public health and preventive care.

India
On October 30, 2024,  APCO member Dr. Lakshmi Nagendra, led a vibrant celebration of World Osteoporosis Day at JSS Hospital, Mysore, India. This year’s theme, “Say No to Fragile Bones,” highlighted the importance of raising awareness about osteoporosis to reduce fracture risks and improve quality of life. In a significant initiative, JSS Hospital launched its Fracture Liaison Services in partnership with the departments of Endocrinology, Geriatrics and Orthopedics, aiming to improve care and clinical outcomes for patients with osteoporotic fractures. This collaboration marks a strong commitment to combating osteoporosis and promoting better bone health across the community.

Indonesia
The Ministry of Health of Indonesia and the Indonesian Osteoporosis Association, who are also known as Perhimpunan Osteoporosis Indonesia (PEROSI), will be organising 2 nationwide events in November and December 2024. APCO member, Dr Paulus Rahardjo, who is on PEROSI’s Multidisciplinary Expert Team, is optimistic about the positive impact on osteoporosis awareness and prevention in Indonesia.

The first event which will be held on November 10, 2024, is a virtual national seminar of National Osteoporosis Day. The virtual seminar will bring together healthcare professionals, including general practitioners, specialists, and subspecialists, to discuss advancements and strategies in osteoporosis care. This collaboration with the Ministry of Health underscores the national commitment to osteoporosis awareness and education. The second event is a National Osteoporosis Day 2024 Celebration which will invite over 10,000 members on the public on a fun walk while educating them through seminars. It will also include free bone health checks for members of the public.

These events are designed to engage both the medical community and the general public in Indonesia, fostering a culture of osteoporosis prevention and bone health awareness. By scheduling the National Osteoporosis Day (HON) activities in alignment with World Osteoporosis Day, PEROSI hopes to contribute to global efforts while respecting the national political landscape.

Japan
In Japan, our APCO member Professor Atsushi Suzuki decorated the rotary within Fujita Health University School of Medicine premises with blue LED ornaments. On October 20th, they held a half-day seminar for osteoporosis liaison service (OLS) coordinators in Tokyo, with over 300 participants attending. An additional public lecture for citizens is scheduled to be held in Nagoya in December 2024.

Mongolia
In Mongolia, Dr Myadagmaa Jaalkhorol, APCO Committee member and President Mongolian Naran Society of Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Health, joined Dr Yanjmaa S, Head of the Diabetes Center of the First Central Hospital of Mongolia joined Dr Myadagmaa in welcoming everyone. The event organised by the Mongolian Naran Society for Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Health, the First Central Hospital of Mongolia, the Department of Health Research, Graduate School, MNUMS and the School of Public Health, MNUMS, as part of the efforts to celebrate WOD 2024.

Dr Myadagmaa educated the public about Osteoporosis and its risk factors. She also shared about some preventive measures that can be taken such as including milk and dairy products in a person’s diet. The organising team evaluated the knowledge and risk factors of 380 ambulatory clients about osteoporosis. The International Osteoporosis Foundation’s osteoporosis risk assessment and health improvement recommendations were translated from English to Mongolian and questionnaires were collected from outpatient clients. Ambulatory clients who were diagnosed with osteoporosis were encouraged to consume osteoporosis-preventing milk and dairy products. The event’s golden sponsor Suu JSC, provided 16,000 milk and dairy products which were distributed to the patients.

Pakistan
The 1st International Osteoporosis and Bone Health Summit titled “Redefining Osteoporosis: From Prevention to Treatment,” was held on October 22, 2024, was a landmark event dedicated to discussing the latest developments in osteoporosis management and bone health. The conference was organized by the Vitamin D Academy and Fragility Fracture Network-Pakistan (FFN-Pak) in collaboration with PharmEvo, as part of celebrating WOD 2024. The event featured interactive presentations from both national and international experts, spanning diverse fields such as orthopedics, medicine, endocrinology, chemical pathology, rheumatology and family physicians. The event was structured into three scientific sessions, each concluding with expert opinions from leading physicians and surgeons.

Dr Aysha Habib Khan, APCO Executive Committee member and the founding member of FFN-Pak, discussed implementing the FRAX tool in Pakistan, highlighting its importance for assessing fracture risk and integrating it into primary care. Dr Khan shared the Asia Pacific Consortium on Osteoporosis (APCO) framework highlighting 5IQ model in the management of osteoporosis. Renowned surgeons gave their expert opinions on improving the lifestyle focusing on exercise, sun exposure, and a healthy diet.

Experts delivered enlightening presentations on Vitamin D’s critical roles in bone health and osteoporosis prevention, the synergistic role of Vitamin K2, Vitamin D, and calcium, and the importance of maintaining a balance between these nutrients for optimal bone and cardiovascular health. Experts further opine to enhance and standardize supplementation programs at the community level, focusing on practical approaches to improve bone health outcomes.

The day concluded with a powerful presentation by Prof. Masood Umer, who shared the journey of FFN-Pak. He discussed the network’s efforts in raising awareness and improving care for fragility fractures, outlining future goals for the organization and its contributions to the global FFN community.

Philippines
Prof Julie Tan Li-Yu, an associate professor at the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery in Manila, Philippines and an APCO member was involved in the event organised by the Rheumatology department at the University of Santo Tomas Hospital to commemorate WOD 2024.

The World Arthritis and Osteoporosis Day forum included talks such as the ‘Understanding Arthritis & Osteoporosis: Every type, every bite – Empowering lives through knowledge and nutrition’, ‘Understanding Osteoporosis: What you need to know’ and ‘Nutrition with Arthritis and Osteoporosis’. The forum emphasized that while arthritis is common, it can be managed with early intervention, medication and lifestyle changes. Similarly, experts reminded the participants that osteoporosis does not have to be an inevitable part of aging if preventive steps are taken early on.

The event concluded with gratitude extended to the patient participants and sponsors for making the forum successful. The key takeaway of the day was reiterated: ‘Knowledge is power, and with the right information, patients can take control of their health through early detection, treatment, and proper nutrition.’ The forum also highlighted the importance of awareness and self-care, providing participants with essential knowledge about arthritis and osteoporosis as diseases. It served as a reminder that these conditions, while common can be addressed through a proactive approach to health – on that combines medical treatment with lifestyle changes for a better quality of life.

Singapore

The Osteoporosis and Bone Metabolism Unit at Singapore General Hospital (SGH) will be commemorating World Osteoporosis Day with 2 educational events that will be held in November 2024. The first one is a unique webinar on Osteoporosis and Bone Health for Staff at SGH. The unit believes that “Education” begins at home and so this webinar in contrast to the public forums they have been holding for the last 17 years, aims to educate SGH staff, who themselves form part of the larger Singaporean community. The webinar inspired by the International Osteoporosis Foundation’s 2024 WOD theme will be a strong call to action by Health Care Providers saying “No to Fragile Bones”. It will feature talks by APCO Chairperson Prof Manju Chandran -Senior Consultant and Director of the Osteoporosis and Bone Metabolism Unit, Ms Nicole Ong Huiyi – Physiotherapist and Ms Benita –Loh Shu Ning- Dietitian.

On November 23, 2024, there will be another unique educational event- this time a first of its kind in the Asia Pacific region- a Hands On DXA BMD workshop organized by the Osteoporosis and Bone Metabolism Unit in collaboration with the Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging and funded by the International Society for Clinical Densitometry. This workshop which will be helmed by DXA expert trainers- Ms Joy Thorpe from the UK and Ms Susan van der Kamp from Ireland and facilitated by Ms May Ann Delos Santos, aims to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and clinical practice so that quality densitometry which is critical to good osteoporosis management and research can be learned.

Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka College of Endocrinologists in collaboration with the Galle Medical Association celebrated the WOD 2024 on October 22nd with two educational programs focusing on allied health personnel and doctors. APCO Executive member Prof Sarath Lekamwasam, Chair Professor at the Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Galle, Sri Lanka was invited to deliver opening lectures in both programs highlighting the need for a country-specific management protocol.

Nearly 50 people from diverse allied health fields participated in the first program which addressed non-pharmacologic interventions. The second program which was dedicated to clinical care was attended by nearly 75 doctors. The initial feedback from the participants was positive and its success indicated a demand for such events in the future.

WOD presents an annual opportunity for APCO members to unite, highlight this essential cause, and celebrate their achievements. It’s uplifting to see the variety of cultural approaches and creative initiatives from our member nations and regions supporting this global health mission.

To learn more about APCO’s commitment to developing tangible solutions to the substantive challenges involving osteoporosis management and fracture prevention in the world’s most populated and fastest-growing region, head to apcobonehealth.org and follow us on LinkedIn.