LAHORE: Medical and health experts say 30pc to 50pc of women and 15pc to 30pc of men are likely to suffer a fracture related to osteoporosis in their lifetime.

They were referring to the statistics of the International Osteoporosis Foundation during a seminar organised by a pharmaceutical company in connection with the World Osteoporosis Day at a local hotel here on Friday. The World Osteoporosis Day is observed on Oct 20 every year.

The health experts said worldwide fracture incidences were two to threefold higher than heart attack, stroke and breast cancer among women.

Punjab Health Director General Dr Zahid Pervaiz said of all the complications experienced by the females after their menopause, none was more devastating than osteoporosis. He said the major consequence of the disease was a fracture which was very distressing, leading to high cost, long bed period and dependency on others.

“The risk factors for fracture include low bone mass density, advancing age, history of fracture over age of 50, family history of hip fracture, long-term use of steroids, rheumatoid arthritis and smoking,” Dr Pervaiz said.

Advisor to Chief Minister on Health Khwaja Salman Rafique said the problem had significant economic consequences and high burden of fracture fixation and hospitalisation cost.

“In Pakistan, we have seen rising number of fractures reported, which can be controlled with early diagnosis and prevention of osteoporosis which majority of time is the root of a fracture,” he said.

The medical experts stressed prevention and awareness drives which, according to them, were the only better way to prevent osteoporosis.

Prof Aftab Ahmad, Prof Nader M Akhter, Prof Abu Bakar, Prof Shafique Ahmed Shafaq, Dr Omer Adil and Dr Mazhar Iqbal Chaudhry were also present.

MoU on research: The University of Health Sciences (UHS), Lahore, and the Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS), Jamshoro, Sindh, have entered into an agreement to collaborate in research and academics.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed here on Friday by UHS Vice Chancellor retired Maj Gen Prof Muhammad Aslam and LUMHS vice-chancellor Prof Dr Noshad Ahmed Shaikh.

The MoU envisages strengthening of bonds between the two institutions to promote cultural and scholarly interaction, exchange students, teachers, scholars and administrations for study and research, develop curricula and to start programmes for capacity building.

Under the agreement, both institutions will develop research quality in the field of epidemiology and public health besides exploring the opportunity to launch special short term academic programmes and projects for students. Exchange of examination questions is also a part of the agreement.

The UHS vice-chancellor said they would try to transform the MoU into a memorandum of action.

The LUMHS vice-chancellor called it a historical step which would go a long way in improving standard of medical education and research in the county. He said collective efforts are always better than individual efforts and invited UHS faculty to start joint research project using the facilities available at LUMHS.

Later, the delegation visited various departments of the university.

Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2014