Dr. Marla Shapiro spoke at the recent CNS Day at World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (WCO-IOF-ESCEO Paris 2019) on patient empowerment. Watch this short video where Dr. Shapiro speaks to the importance of knowing about osteoporosis and the risk of fractures associated with the disease. Know Your Risk. Visit Osteoporosis Canada’s website and Take the Quiz.
Dr. Mohit Bhandari, a member of the SAC Executive committee, a Professor in the Department of Surgery at McMaster University and a leader in the field of orthopedic surgery has been invested into the Order of Canada, one of the highest civilian honours in Canada. Mohit has been recognized for his advocacy on behalf of domestic violence victims.
Mohit was recognized for his pioneering research related to intimate partner violence, which has sparked a global conversation about the role health care workers play in identifying and responding to abuse. He was also lauded as an influential mentor to students and surgical colleagues.
He was presented with this honour by Governor General Julie Payette in Ottawa at Rideau Hall on Thursday March 14, 2019.
Congratulations, Mohit!
A development grant to improve osteoporosis care for fragility fracture patients has been awarded to British Columbia’s Fraser Health Authority. Funding for “Breaking The Cycle Of Recurrent Fracture: Scaling Up A Fracture Prevention Program In British Columbia” was awarded by the Michel Smith Foundation for Health Research.
Osteoporosis Canada congratulates the project co-leads, Dr. Sonia Singh (FLS Medical Lead, Peace Arch Hospital, Fraser Health), Larry Funnell (patient partner), Tania Bubela (Dean of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University), and Teresa O’Callaghan (executive sponsor, Executive Director Peace Arch Hospital, Fraser Health) and all their team members.
This project will explore how the Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) model implemented at one hospital in BC (Peace Arch Hospital, White Rock) can be successfully adapted and scaled-up to other hospital sites to break the cycle of recurrent fractures.
The evidenced-based FLS model has been recognized and adopted worldwide as the most effective model for preventing recurrent osteoporosis-related fractures in a cost-effective manner. FLS involves a dedicated coordinator who “captures” the patient at the point of orthopedic care for low-trauma fracture and seamlessly integrates secondary fracture prevention into the overall fracture experience. FLS coordinators link up with community family physicians to ensure on-going care and follow-through of the initiated interventions to prevent further fractures.
The Michael Smith Foundation development grant was one of 10 projects chosen in a provincial competition for Implementation Science Research. The Fraser Health team now goes on to the next stage of the competition which is to develop a full grant proposal to roll out Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) at multiple sites in Fraser Health and evaluate implementation over three years. Five projects will be funded in June 2019.
Given the great need for more FLSs, Osteoporosis Canada wishes the team every success with the next round of the competition and increasing uptake of FLS in British Columbia.
Canada’s new Food Guide will be released on Tuesday Jan 22nd. It is a modern approach to promoting healthy eating, making healthier eating choices easier for all Canadians. This new food guide focuses on what to eat and how to eat.
Canadians continue to need calcium and vitamin D for their bone health. Please refer to the Calcium Calculator for more information on calcium rich foods. Osteoporosis Canada continues to encourage adults to take a daily supplement of vitamin D.
More information will be available later this year on suggested meal patterns. See Health Canada’s website for more food guide information.
As a member of The Health Charities Coalition of Canada (HCCC) our organization, Osteoporosis Canada, is pleased to see federal support for the establishment of the Canadian Drug Agency which will oversee the development of a new national formulary of prescribed drugs and provide additional support for Canadians with rare diseases. We look forward to integrating the perspectives of patients and the health charity sector as we work with the Federal Government to implement these investments.
Important Changes to the Availability and Conditions of Use for Drugs Containing Calcitonin
Calcitonin nasal spray for the treatment of osteoporosis is no longer available in Canada because of new information on the possibility of a slight increase in cancer risk. In addition, calcitonin nasal spray is not as effective for the treatment of osteoporosis as other medications as it only reduces the risk of spine fractures and not other types of fragility fractures. If you were using calcitonin nasal spray, talk to your doctor about other available treatment options that are more effective and that best suit you. More information is available from Health Canada at http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2013/34843a-eng.php#public-public.
Osteoporosis Canada’s rapid response team, made up of members of the Scientific Advisory Council, creates position statements as news breaks regarding osteoporosis. The position statements are used to inform both the healthcare professional and the patient. The Scientific Advisory Council (SAC) is made up of experts in Osteoporosis and bone metabolism and is a volunteer membership.
TORONTO, ON (February 2, 2016) – Snow and ice can make walking challenging, especially for those at risk of fractures due to osteoporosis. In fact, one in three Canadian women, and one in five Canadian men, will break a bone because of osteoporosis, a debilitating disease that can strike at any time, causing bones to become fragile and break. Each year in Canada, broken bones caused by osteoporosis are more common than heart attack, stroke and breast cancer combined for women over the age of 50, despite the fact that if simple steps are taken in your 30s, the risk can be reduced.
“Many people think that osteoporosis is a natural part of aging, but this is not the case,” said Dr. Famida Jiwa, President and CEO of Osteoporosis Canada. “Every year, thousands of Canadian women break bones due to undiagnosed osteoporosis, despite the fact that the disease can be effectively managed, and in some cases prevented. We strongly encourage everyone over 30 to speak to a healthcare professional about osteoporosis and the steps that they can take to protect themselves.”
Despite the severity and prevalence of osteoporosis, a new survey released today from Osteoporosis Canada, in partnership with Shoppers Drug Mart, reveals startling gaps in Canadians’ knowledge and understanding of the disease.2 The survey results show that half of those in their 30s don’t know the facts about osteoporosis and how to reduce their risk of developing this disease.2
Additional results and statistics include:
“It’s never too early to start thinking about bone health and there are easy steps that Canadians can take, at every age, to help prevent osteoporosis,” said Bhavika Prajapati, pharmacist and Associate-Owner, Shoppers Drug Mart. “Ensuring your diet is rich with calcium, supplementing with vitamin D and adding regular exercise to your daily or weekly routine will help build bone strength and can make a difference in prevention of osteoporosis and fractures.”
As part of this effort for better bone health, Osteoporosis Canada has joined forces with Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix, whose pharmacists have received specialized training in the prevention, management and treatment of osteoporosis. Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix pharmacists are equipped to provide education and advice to patients about osteoporosis management and reducing the risk. In addition, Osteoporosis Canada is lending its endorsement to Life Brand Vitamin D and Calcium products, to help in the prevention and management of Osteoporosis.
Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix is committed to Putting Women’s Health First, which is why Shoppers Drug Mart launched SHOPPERS LOVE.YOU. program in 2015. SHOPPERS LOVE.YOU. is a program that helps women stay focused on making their own health a priority.
“Shoppers Drug Mart is thrilled to be working with Osteoporosis Canada, helping to further educate Canadian women about osteoporosis,” said Prajapati. ”Pharmacists’ expanded scope of practice offers further convenience to our customers and patients and, in this instance, knowledgeable information, to help reduce the risk of osteoporosis in Canadians.”
For more information about protecting your bones, visit your local Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacist or osteoporosis.ca.
About Osteoporosis Canada
Osteoporosis Canada, a registered charity, is the only national organization dedicated to serving people who have or are at risk of osteoporosis. In keeping with our vision of a Canada without osteoporosis fractures, the organization works to educate, empower and support individuals and communities in the risk reduction and treatment of osteoporosis by providing medically accurate information to patients, health professionals and the public.
At least 2 million Canadians are affected by osteoporosis. One in three women and one in 5 men will break a bone due to osteoporosis. There are approximately 30,000 hip fractures per year in Canada; data on spinal fractures is limited, but it is estimated that 65 per cent of vertebral fractures go undetected. For more information, visit www.osteoporosis.ca.
About Shoppers Drug Mart / Pharmaprix
Shoppers Drug Mart / Pharmaprix is one of the most recognized and trusted names in Canadian retailing. The Company is the licensor of full-service retail drug stores operating under the name Shoppers Drug Mart (Pharmaprix in Québec). With over 1,250 Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix stores operating in prime locations in each province and two territories, the Company is one of the most convenient retailers in Canada. The Company also licenses or owns 59 medical clinic pharmacies operating under the name Shoppers Simply Pharmacy (Pharmaprix Simplement Santé in Québec) and six luxury beauty destinations operating as Murale. As well, the Company owns and operates 62 Shoppers Home Health Care stores, making it the largest Canadian retailer of home healthcare products and services. In addition to its retail store network, the Company owns Shoppers Drug Mart Specialty Health Network Inc., a provider of specialty drug distribution, pharmacy and comprehensive patient support services, and MediSystem Technologies Inc., a provider of pharmaceutical products and services to long-term care facilities. Shoppers Drug Mart is a unique and independent operating division of Loblaw Companies Limited. For more information, visit www.shoppersdrugmart.ca.
References
1Osteoporosis Canada. Osteoporosis Facts and Statistics. https://osteoporosis.ca/osteoporosis-and-you/osteoporosis-facts-and-statistics/. Accessed February 1, 2016
2H+K Perspectives, Bone Health: A Survey of Canadians. June 4-14, 2015.
3Osteoporosis Canada. Fracture Liaison Services Toolkit, appendix B. https://osteoporosis.ca/fls/wp-content/uploads/FLS-TOOLKIT-App-B.pdf. Accessed February 1, 2016.
4Brown, Jacques P., Josse, Robert G., Canada and the OSC lead the way. Osteoporosis Update. 2003. https://osteoporosis.ca/local/files/health_professionals/pdfs/osteoupdate_special_e.pdf. Accessed February 1, 2016
5Osteoporosis Canada. Calcium: An Important Nutrient that Builds Stronger Bones. https://osteoporosis.ca/osteoporosis-and-you/nutrition/calcium-requirements/. Accessed February 1, 2016.
6Tarride JE, Hopkins RB, Leslie WD, et al. The burden of illness of osteoporosis in Canada. Osteoporos Int.
Nov 2012;23(11):25912600.
SOURCE Osteoporosis Canada 
For further information: Emily Vear, Hill+Knowlton Strategies, Emily.vear@hkstrategies.ca, 416-413-4743
Each year, Alberta Health Services (the province wide, fully-integrated health system in Alberta) recognizes exceptional accomplishments by teams across the province through the President’s Excellence Awards. Alberta’s Fracture Liaison Service Team is the recipient of the 2018 award for Outstanding Achievement in Innovation and Research Excellence. This award recognizes an individual or team who demonstrates outstanding improvements to quality care, patient experience, patient and population health outcomes and health system performance through the successful introduction of an innovation. Alberta’s FLS team was selected as one of three winners in this category from a record 138 nominations total.
Alberta’s FLS team has implemented a provincial FLS program that is evidence-based and cost-effective. Like all Fracture Liaison Services, its goal is to help to close the care gap between orthopedic surgery and associated acute care, as well as help bridge the transition to primary care for management of patients’ underlying osteoporosis. This work helps individuals return to functional independence and reach their individual goals for wellness.
Starting in 2015, Misericordia Community Hospital was the first site within Alberta to establish an FLS program. Since then, FLS programs have been implemented at a further seven hospitals (Peter Lougheed Centre, Red Deer Regional Hospital, University of Alberta Hospital, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Foothills Medical Centre, Queen Elizabeth II Hospital and Rockyview General Hospital) with two new sites opening in Fall 2018, and a commitment to spread province-wide. The program is funded by the AHS Bone and Joint Health Strategic Clinical Network and is supported by the Alberta Bone and Joint Health Institute.
Osteoporosis will affect one in three women and one in five men in their lifetime, making fractures from osteoporosis more common than heart attack, stroke and breast cancer combined. With an ever-growing aging population, the need for such innovation is only set to increase.
Do you Know Your Risk?
For most Canadians, everyday staircases, sidewalks and park slopes are nothing to be feared. For the two million Canadians affected by osteoporosis, however, these seemingly harmless places are incredibly dangerous.
Today, in celebration of World Osteoporosis Day, Osteoporosis Canada will transform everyday spaces into “danger zones” to demonstrate the increased risks faced by those living with osteoporosis.
Since many Canadians don’t know whether they are at risk, Osteoporosis Canada has launched the Know Your Risk tool, a simple quiz to help identify personal risk factors and help Canadians work with their doctors to protect their bones.
The results of the assessment will help identify the factors that may put respondents at risk for breaking bones as a result of the disease and. Visit www.osteoporosis.ca/risk to complete the quiz, and talk to your doctor about your bone health.
You may have noticed that we have a new logo! This is the first update to our organizations rebrand. The fresh new logo is just one way we’re working to ensure we can stand out, make a strong impact, and help make Canadians unbreakable.