Osteoporosis treatment varies dramatically across the country, according to a new report, which outlines how some patients are never referred for important tests or don't have access to drugs that can prevent bone fractures.
The report card, entitled "Breaking Barriers, Not Bones," was issued Monday by Osteoporosis Canada and paints a bleak picture of access to testing and treatment for patients across the country.
The report card gave a grade of C or lower to the majority of provinces for the number of patients who are referred for bone mineral testing (BMD), an important diagnostic test that is also used to monitor the disease's progression.
"We know that if you don't have a bone density, you are nine times less likely to be treated, even if you have osteoporosis," Dr. Marla Shapiro said Monday on CTV's Canada AM. "So without the diagnosis you get overlooked."
The majority of provinces also received a C or lower for the availability of osteoporosis medications on provincial or territorial drug plans.
"For those at high risk, there are effective medications that can significantly reduce their risk of a debilitating fracture," Dr. Diane Th锟絩iault of Dartmouth General Hospital said in a statement. "It is therefore important that such medications be covered under provincial drug insurance plans."
Osteoporosis Canada recommends that all Canadians over age 65 receive a BMD test, and all adults between the ages of 50 and 65 be assessed on a year basis for their osteoporosis risk.
The report will serve as a benchmark against which experts can measure future progress in treatment of the disease.
According to Osteoporosis Canada, one in four women and at least one in four men over the age of 50 have osteoporosis, which is a chronic degenerative disease of the bones that puts patients at a high risk for bone fractures.
In fact, more than 80 per cent of bone fractures in people over the age of 60 are osteoporosis related, according to the report.
Of those who suffer hip fractures, as many as 23 per cent of women and an even higher percentage of men will die within six months due to related complications, such as pneumonia or a blood clot.
"Osteoporosis and the fractures it causes cost the health care system in excess of $1.3 billion each year," the report reads.
Early detection, drug treatments and lifestyle changes are all ways to reduce fracture risk and manage progression of the disease.
Experts say that regular exercise, as well as adequate consumption of vitamin D and calcium, can maintain strong bones and reduce fracture risk.
The report includes a number of recommendations to improve care for osteoporosis patients. They include:
- The federal government must work with the provincial and territorial governments to devise a national treatment strategy to coincide with provincial and territorial policies.
- All strategies should fall within the publicly funded health-care system to ensure broad access to care.
