Reducing osteoporosis-related fractures is 'public health imperative' Providing more individuals at risk for osteoporosis with a prescription to buy Fosamax and do other things to improve their bone health could dramatically reduce costs associated with treating fractures, according to a new report. Providing more individuals at risk for osteoporosis with a prescription to buy Fosamax and do other things to improve their bone health could dramatically reduce costs associated with treating fractures, according to a new report. The National Bone Health Alliance and Kaiser Permanente recently unveiled their "20/20 Vision" plan, which calls for reducing hip fractures and other breaks by 20 percent by the year 2020. Accomplishing this goal could save billions of dollars. The report states that the cost of treating osteoporosis-related fractures could rise to $25 billion by the year 2025. The high cost is largely attributable to the aging population, which is at much higher risk of developing osteoporosis. "Reducing the expected number of hip and other fractures by 20 percent by the end of the decade is a public health imperative," said Richard M. Dell, the lead orthopaedic surgeon of Kaiser Permanente's Healthy Bones Program. "It would be a monumental achievement, sparing half a million Americans of horrible pain and suffering and a loss in quality of life." He added that the cost savings would be tremendous if this goal were to be achieved.

See also ...

• Heart medication may have impact on mental health
• Cosmetic procedure touted for poker players
• Health reform ruling could have benefits for arthritis patients
• Researcher develops method for preventing depression in teens
• Statin medications may improve stroke treatments
• Internet use patterns may predict depression
• 53 million Americans could soon have diabetes
• IUDs proven safe and effective for emergency contraception
• Antioxidant shown to prevent dangerous blood clots
• Perception is central in treating depression
• Expert recommends alternative approaches to living with arthritis
• EKG may spot heart attack risk
• Team to install new device to prevent chronic acid reflux
• New study finds no link between pain relievers and enlarged prostate
• Pharmacists have important role to play in healthcare reform
• Mail-order services popular, inexpensive among patients
• Triglycerides may be major stroke risk factor
• Researchers develop blood test to check for depression
• Men should get their prostates examined to avoid complications
• Diabetes and depression should be treated together, study says
• Researchers find gene associated with depression
• Resting heart rate changes may predict cardiovascular disease risk
• E-prescribing helps patients remember to retrieve their medications
• Rates of knee arthritis skyrocket
• Knowing the early warning signs of arthritis is key to effective treatment
• Sugar-sweetened beverages tied to cardiovascular risk in women
• New guidelines recommend treating high cholesterol in some youths
• Younger arthritis sufferers are more likely to fracture a bone
• Doctors often diagnose gastrointestinal symptoms as acid reflux
• Hormone levels may predict breast cancer risk
• Behavioral therapy shown to benefit depression patients
• Heartburn can be a serious health problem
• New book urges individuals to understand their osteoporosis risk
• MRI scans may help doctors determine if patients benefit from cholesterol-lowering medications
• A relationship with a pharmacist can lead to improvements in care
• Prevalence of silent strokes higher than previously thought
• Groups team up to educate consumers on the warning signs of fraudulent Canadian internet pharmacies
• Herbal treatment for BPH proven ineffective
• Elderly breast cancer patients may not receive the same quality treatment as younger ones
• Older men may need a prescription to buy Flomax to solve urinary incontinence
• Pharmacists improve care of heart disease patients
• Many diabetics may not be following treatment advice
• Electronic health records may help ensure diabetics fill prescriptions
• Antioxidant may support metabolic health in diabetics
• Screening for mental health problems may help teens find help for depression
• Groups battle over health plans that mandate use of mail-order pharmacies
• Pharmacists produce important savings when they are involved in patient care
• Canadian internet pharmacies may offer cost-effective alternative
• Mail-order customers of diabetes drugs may have better treatment outcomes
• Advocacy group tells Americans to take action to preserve access to Canadian pharmacies