Osteoporosis is a condition that leads to weak and fragile bones, increasing the risk of painful and debilitating major osteoporotic fractures (MOF, i.e. broken hips, spine fractures, and fractures of the wrist and humerus).
According to the latest report by the International Osteoporosis Foundation, osteoporosis affects more than 38 million Europeans.
Moreover, people in the Nordic Countries hold the world record in osteoporosis-related fractures. Indeed, osteoporosis is not only a challenge on an individual level, but also from a societal perspective. As our population ages, the burden of osteoporosis will increase, and by 2034, the annual number of MOFs is estimated to increase by 24.8% among Europeans. This is likely a big future challenge on the Nordic health care sector.
Currently, osteoporosis is managed and treated on a case-by-case basis. This approach is ineffective, as many individuals with osteoporosis remain undiagnosed and untreated.
CHOICE (Continuous Healthcare in OsteoporosIs CasE-finding) aims to innovate the identification of people at risk of osteoporosis. Instead of relying on manual checks that patients must request during consultation with their general practitioner, the project will implement an automated system. This system will use computer algorithms to analyze healthcare data and predict who is most likely to experience a MOF. Active involvement of individuals at risk of osteoporosis will inform the implementation of the system to secure the feasibility and sustainability of the system. This approach will ensure an early and continuous detection of individuals at risk of fractures within one year.
Through this approach, CHOICE intends to:
- Reduce the number of fractures by 50% in high risk individuals
- Reduce fracture-related healthcare costs by 50%
- Improve the quality of life for individuals at risk of osteoporosis
Development and implementation of a more effective strategy to identify and manage osteoporosis is crucial for improving the quality of life and functional capacity for millions of elderly in the Nordic countries. A proactive and efficient approach will ultimately lead to healthier, more resilient communities, with optimized opportunities for health and elderly care throughout the Nordic countries.