In osteoporosis, bones become brittle and fragile, putting them at high risk of fractures or breaks. These 'fragility fractures' can cause pain, suffering, disability and even death, and patients have increased risks of repeat fractures.
Reviewed by Megan Craig, M.Sc.Aug 22 2023 In osteoporosis, bones become brittle and fragile, putting them at high risk of fractures or breaks. These "fragility fractures" can cause pain, suffering, disability and even death, and patients have increased risks of repeat fractures. It is estimated that one in two women and up to one in four men experience a fracture in their lifetime due to osteoporosis.
A Fracture Liaison Service, or FLS, is a post-fracture care approach that includes patient education on diet and lifestyle to improve bone health, along with referral to a bone health clinician to consider medications to prevent future fractures. Despite its benefits, the FLS adoption in the United States has been challenging due to the need for face-to-face FLS visits, variable access to bone health clinicians and 'liaisons,' and limited resources for implementation.
The UAB-led study, called RESTORE, will be the first to compare the effectiveness of two post-fracture care pathways, say Saag and Danila. Just over $7 million of the $13.9 million funding award will stay in UAB, Saag says. "The study team will continue to engage key stakeholders, including patients, caregivers, both general medicine and specialty clinicians, and payers to assist with developing patient materials and to advise on study procedures and dissemination of findings," Danila said. "This will help ensure this study is conducted in a highly patient-centered fashion."