A new publication describes a unique collaboration between the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), academic units and industry partners to enhance the implementation of effective fracture liaison services for secondary fracture prevention and improved patient care.

Osteoporosis is a condition that leads to an increased risk of broken bones, or ‘fragility fractures’, which result in pain, loss of quality of life, higher mortality and enormous economic and social costs. 

Globally, one in three women and one in five men aged fifty years and over will sustain a fragility fracture. Given that patients with a recent fragility fracture are twice as likely to have another fracture compared to their peers that have not yet fractured, a key strategy for prevention is to identify these high-risk patients and ensure timely management. Nevertheless, despite effective treatments to reduce fracture risk, the vast majority of fracture patients are not identified and treated when they present to a hospital or clinic with a fragility fracture.

Experts have recognized that post-fracture care coordination programmes such as Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) are the most effective and efficient way to identify high-risk patients and address the post-fracture care gap. An FLS is typically composed of a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals that systematically identifies, investigates, recommends treatment and monitors patients with a recently diagnosed fragility fracture. 

Capture the Fracture^® Partnership – unique collaboration champions global FLS implementation

To drive global FLS implementation and improvement, the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) launched its landmark Capture the Fracture^® (CTF) programme in 2012. In 2019, to further accelerate the implementation of FLSs across the globe, IOF enhanced and expanded the CTF programme with the Capture the Fracture® Partnership (CTF-P). CTF-P is a unique, targeted programme in collaboration with academic partners at the Universities of Oxford and Southampton, supported by industry partners Amgen and UCB. 

The new review ‘The Capture the Fracture Partnership: an overview of a global initiative to increase the secondary fracture prevention care for patient benefit’ outlines how the novel collaborative initiative has greatly boosted FLS implementation, effectiveness and sustainability at the local level in the prioritized 18 countries within Europe, Latin America, East Asia, and the Middle East. It describes the unique CTF-P approach based on interconnected pillars of activity, which include policy, coalitions, mentorship, and scalable solutions. Through these areas of activity, CTF-P has successfully delivered impactful multi-language educational resources as well as policy reports, including the important CTF-P Guidance for Policy Shaping. The mentorship pillar, which provides national mentors with knowledge and competence in supporting the initiation of effective and sustainable FLS with good patient experience, has been successfully delivered in eleven countries across four prioritized regions. CTF-P has also led to the creation of influential national coalitions of stakeholders that drive secondary fracture prevention and FLS implementation at the national level. 

IOF President Professor Cyrus Cooper stated: 

“Despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, CTF-P was able to deliver critical resources and activities. Its impact to date has resulted in over 461 additional FLS referenced on the CTF global map, serving more than 150,755 additional patients since the launch, representing an increase of 46%. We thank the Capture the Fracture® team and colleagues at the University of Oxford, led by Professor Kassim Javaid, for their outstanding work and efforts, as well as the industry partners, UCB and Amgen, for their support of this important IOF initiative. Through our concerted efforts and those of national stakeholders, thousands of patients around the world have received the care they need to prevent life-changing fractures.”

“We look forward to consolidating CTF-P’s achievements and to continued success in providing secondary fracture prevention to patients worldwide."

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Reference:
Javaid, M.K., Pinedo-Villanueva, R., Shah, A. Mohsin, Z,  Hiligsmann, M., Mlotek‑Soulie, A., Fuggle, N.R., Halbout, P., Cooper, C. The Capture the Fracture® Partnership: an overview of a global initiative to increase the secondary fracture prevention care for patient benefit. Osteoporos Int (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-023-06759-x
 
About Capture the Fracture^®
Capture the Fracture^® (CTF) is a multi-stakeholder initiative, led by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), to facilitate the implementation of Post-Fracture Care (PFC) Coordination Programs, such as Fracture Liaison Services (FLS), for secondary fracture prevention. The CTF initiative, which celebrated its 10th year of service in 2022, aims to drive changes at local and regional levels to prioritize secondary fracture prevention. It sets global best practice standards and offers recognition for Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) through its Best Practice Framework. CTF also provides essential resources and documentation to build the case for prioritization of secondary fracture prevention and to help drive the implementation and quality improvement of FLS. Mentorship programs that support the development of FLS at the local level are also offered.

The Capture the Fracture® Partnership, a global initiative launched in 2020, is a collaboration between the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), the University of Oxford, Amgen and UCB, amplifying the Capture the Fracture® programme launched in 2012. It seeks to address the global health burden of osteoporosis through five interconnected pillars, following a comprehensive, top-down and bottom-up approach, and aligning stakeholders at the international, national and local level in prioritized countries across the Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. The aim is to prioritize and drive more rapid uptake of post-fracture care coordination programmes around the world.

Currently, the CTF network includes 854 FLS in 54 countries worldwide. FLS are invited to apply for free assessment and recognition via the CTF website’s online Best Practice Framework application platform. https://www.capturethefracture.org    #CaptureTheFracture

About IOF
The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) is the world's largest nongovernmental organization dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of osteoporosis and related musculoskeletal diseases. IOF members, including committees of scientific researchers as well as more than 320 patient, medical and research organizations, work together to make fracture prevention and healthy mobility a worldwide heath care priority. https://www.osteoporosis.foundation   @iofbonehealth