Description
The presentation is delivered by Paul Mitchell, who expresses his pleasure in participating virtually from New Zealand in the BOA Annual Congress on Fracture Liaison. He plans to discuss resources developed on the subject of fracture care and provide insights into the current demographic trends related to fragility fractures. Paul highlights the increasing aging population, referencing data from the United Nations indicating a rise in the 'old age dependency ratio.' He emphasizes the need for actionable solutions to manage the expected increase in fractures due to aging.
Mitchell outlines a shift in demographics, mentioning the number of seniors per 100 working-age individuals and projections indicating significant growth in these numbers by the end of the century. He discusses fragility fractures' association with elderly populations and stresses the urgency in implementing preventive care strategies.
He shares findings from a 2017 compendium that estimates the number of individuals at high risk of fractures will double by 2040. Paul mentions ongoing initiatives like the Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) and how different models (Types A, B, C, and D) approach the prevention and management of osteoporosis.
The presentation enters technical detail as he covers the FFN Clinical Toolkit, created during the COVID-19 pandemic to streamline multidisciplinary collaboration in fracture management. He notes that the UK is at the forefront of implementing FLS and provides practical advice for colleagues in various healthcare settings.
Mitchell concludes with the announcement of new initiatives in New Zealand, including a Clinical Standards document for FLS and a newly established Fragility Fracture Registry aimed at benchmarking best practices with international standards. He encourages cross-collaboration, citing England’s National Hip Fracture Database as a template for success. The presentation ends on an optimistic note, inviting attendees to continue their collective efforts toward improving fracture care.