Raising awareness of osteoporosis prevention

(Baonghean) - Currently, osteoporosis is becoming a common disease in people aged 40 and over; causing the risk of bone fractures, reducing the patient's ability to work and affecting the family economy. Therefore, it is necessary to raise awareness and knowledge of osteoporosis prevention in people effectively and promptly.

According to statistics, there are currently about 200 million people in the world with osteoporosis; 1 in 3 women have osteoporosis, the rate of osteoporosis in men is 1/5. In Vietnam, osteoporosis affects 1/3 women and 1/8 men over the age of 50. As of 2010, the number of people with hip fractures due to osteoporosis in Vietnam was 26,000, and it is estimated that by 2030 it will be 41,000.

Modern machinery system at Vinh Medical University General Clinic. Photo: LM

Currently, the issue of propaganda and raising awareness of osteoporosis prevention for people has not received due attention. The rate of people knowing about osteoporosis prevention and treatment in the community is not high, leading to an increase in complications of bone fractures. In order to raise awareness of prevention and treatment of this disease in the elderly, the General Clinic - Vinh Medical University conducted a project to evaluate the effectiveness of some intervention solutions to prevent osteoporosis in people aged 40 and over in Vinh city. The subjects were 1,560 people aged 40 and over who had their bone density measured at the heel bone using the Osteosys 3000-EXA (dual energy X-ray) machine. As a result, 743 people were found to have reduced bone density and 757 people had osteoporosis.

The intervention solutions and effectiveness evaluation were implemented by the project authors into 2 groups. Group 1, including people with reduced bone density (743 people) was applied with the solution of propaganda to raise awareness, change behavior to improve quality of life. Subjects with reduced bone density and no comorbidities were propagated with documents, raising awareness about the consequences of osteoporosis; changing behavior (such as eating foods rich in calcium, physical activity, exercise and sports, walking, not smoking, reducing alcohol, being cautious when using corticosteroids). At the same time, they were advised to supplement calcium by drinking 2 cups of milk with calcium/day and advised to use calcium supplements for 9 months.

Group 2 is a group of 817 people with osteoporosis. Subjects with osteoporosis and no comorbidities were educated to change their behavior, living habits, eating habits, exercise habits, and calcium supplementation by drinking 2 cups of milk with calcium/day and prescribed calcium supplements for 9 months. Subjects with osteoporosis and comorbidities were instructed to supplement calcium by drinking 2 cups of milk with calcium/day and prescribed calcium supplements for 9 months; Training and guidance on walking regimens for each group based on BMI; dietary guidance for patients with osteoporosis; Evaluation of effectiveness after 9 months of intervention, by measuring bone density at the heel bone with the Korean Ostesys 3000-EXA machine.

After the intervention, the preventive solutions showed very positive results. The group of subjects had 150 people with normal bone density, 23.4% of patients in the osteoporosis group converted to decreased bone density and the rate of new osteoporosis from the decreased bone density group was 3.1%. The rate of people exercising after the intervention was higher than before the intervention. The rate of implementing a calcium supplement diet was higher than before the intervention. More than 1/3 of the subjects with decreased bone density and osteoporosis drank 2 cups of calcium-rich milk/day, after the intervention this rate increased significantly.

Doctors and nurses at the multidisciplinary clinic - Vinh Medical University are well-trained and professional. Photo: Luong Mai

The success of the project confirms the practical effectiveness of the propaganda solutions and ways to prevent osteoporosis for people that the project offers. However, in order to apply and widely deploy the project to achieve positive results, it is necessary to have the attention and support from relevant departments and branches at all levels. For the health station in Vinh city, the grassroots health sector needs to strengthen health education and communication work, raise people's awareness of osteoporosis prevention. Adjust lifestyle to optimize bone density from a young age and reduce the level of age-related bone loss; to reduce the incidence and complications of osteoporosis later. Combine propaganda, guide lifestyle changes, calcium supplementation and drug treatment for patients with osteoporosis.

The Department of Health needs to further strengthen its role in directing the health education and communication center, coordinating with the research team to promote propaganda in many forms about osteoporosis. Organize training courses for grassroots health workers to have knowledge and skills in detecting, consulting, caring for, and treating osteoporosis and its complications. At the same time, equip stations with osteoporosis screening tools, tools to support care and treatment of osteoporosis, fracture management and treatment, and rehabilitation.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cao Truong Sinh

Director of General Clinic - Vinh Medical University