The president of the Spanish Association of Patients with Osteoporosis (AECOS), Gema Martínez, has emphasized that, although avoiding a first fracture is relevant, it is even more decisive to prevent the second one, as this can worsen mobility limitations, diminish independence, and reduce the ability to continue performing activities autonomously.
Coinciding with World Osteoporosis Day, which is celebrated every October 20, AECOS, along with UCB, Amgen, and Grünenthal, has launched "YOU don't know what you're missing," a series of audiovisual pieces that seek to raise awareness and focus on everything that a fragility fracture can cause one to lose, beyond bone health itself.
The campaign is mainly aimed at women over 50 years old, a group in which around 23 percent suffer from osteoporosis in Spain. It is estimated that nearly three million people live in the country with this chronic and progressive condition, characterized by the loss of density and quality of bone, which increases the risk of fragility fractures even from falls, minor bumps, or everyday situations that normally would not cause a bone injury.
The disease can evolve silently for years without showing obvious signs, and in many cases, a fragility fracture constitutes its first visible manifestation. Each year, around 285,000 fractures of this type are recorded across the country, a figure that is expected to continue rising due to the aging population.
Gema Martínez has asserted that "a fragility fracture can mark a before and after in a person's life," as, in addition to physical damage, obstacles are added to leaving the house, moving around, maintaining social relationships, or simply carrying out daily tasks.
"That is why it is essential for women to be aware of the risk and have information that allows them to take care of their bone health before a fracture conditions their life," she emphasized.
Prevention and risk assessment tools
From AECOS, they have highlighted the importance of prevention and, to facilitate that the population better understands their fracture risk, they will enable a specific section on their website with a tool based on FRAX, which calculates the probability of suffering an injury of this type in the next 10 years based on various risk factors.
The association has also called to protect bone health through regular physical exercise, a balanced diet, and maintaining an adequate weight. Similarly, it recommends avoiding tobacco consumption and alcohol intake.
The president of AECOS has warned that "having suffered a fracture increases the risk of fracturing again." "That is why it is essential for people to receive information, follow-up, and appropriate care that helps reduce that risk," she insisted, also emphasizing the importance of Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) in this preventive work.
However, she specified that only 15 percent of Spanish hospitals have these units, which is why she has called for their extension to optimize care and decrease the occurrence of new fractures.
A generational parallel to explain the loss of autonomy
In order to show the impact of fragility fractures, the AECOS campaign relies on a parallel that connects different generations through a common concern: the loss of autonomy and independence.
To do this, it compares what it means for a young person to have their mobile phone break —the tool they use to relate, move, pay, or manage a large part of their daily routine— with the consequences that a fracture entails for an older person.
The videos and materials that will be disseminated on social networks also highlight the essential role of healthcare professionals in the prevention and care of bone health.