Over 2.3 million Canadians live with osteoporosis, a medical condition that increases their risk of breaking bones. It’s often called a silent disease because a person’s bones can deteriorate for years, and without their knowledge, before they receive a diagnosis.
“Much like high blood pressure, patients often don’t know they have osteoporosis until they experience life-changing fractures,” said Dr. Raheem Kherani, a rheumatologist and clinician investigator at Arthritis Research Canada.
It’s a myth that osteoporosis only affects women. Men over 50 can also have it. And, steroid medications used to treat conditions like rheumatoid arthritis can accelerate bone loss and increase osteoporosis risk – even in younger people.
Arthritis Research Canada’s scientists are conducting research to improve diagnosis, treatment and overall care for people living with osteoporosis. Learn more about this research and bone health in Episode 18 of the Arthritis Research Education Series.
If you’ve watched our webinar, we’d like to hear from you. Please take a few minutes to complete our short survey below.
Webinar
Learn about existing AI tools to support your health from our researchers and patient partner.
Research
Osteoporosis is a medical condition that leads to an increased risk of bone fracture. It affects over 2.3 million Canadians, can impact quality of life and even increase a person’s risk of death.
“One in 5 people can pass away following a hip fracture,” said Dr. Raheem Kherani, a Clinician Investigator at Arthritis Research Canada.
Dr. Kherani and Dr. Carrie Ye have conducted extensive research to understand fracture risk and improve quality of osteoporosis diagnosis and care.
Expand the menus below and click the links to learn more about osteoporosis and bone health research at Arthritis Research Canada.
Fracture Risk & Prevention Research
- Preventing the Next Fracture: Spreading Fracture Liaison Service Across British Columbia
- Virtual Intervention for Vertebral frActure (VIVA): A Pilot, Feasibility Study for a Pragmatic Hybrid Implementation-Effectiveness Randomized Controlled Trial
- Virtual Intervention for Vertebral frActures (VIVA): Protocol for a Feasibility Study of a Multicentre Randomized Controlled Trial
- Breaking the Cycle of Recurrent Fracture: Implementing the First Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) in British Columbia, Canada
- Age at First Fracture and Later Fracture Risk in Older Adults Undergoing Osteoporosis Assessment
- Association of Vertebral Fractures with Worsening Degenerative Changes of the Spine: A Longitudinal Study
- Fracture Risk Prediction Using the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool in Individuals With Cancer
- Adjusting FRAX Estimates of Fracture Probability Based on a Positive Vertebral Fracture Assessment
- Performance of FRAX in Men With Prostate Cancer: A Registry-Based Cohort Study
- Fracture Risk and Assessment in Adults with Cancer
Medications & Osteoporosis Research
- Increase in Major Osteoporotic Fractures after Therapy with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
- Assessing the Effects of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors on Bone Utilizing Machine Learning-Assisted Opportunistic Quantitative Computed Tomography
- Osteoporotic Fractures: An Unrecognized Adverse Event of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors?
- Fracture Rate Increases after Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Treatment: A Potential New Immune Related Adverse Event
Osteoporosis Treatment Research
- Targeted Coaching to Improve Osteoporosis Therapy Adherence: A Single Arm Variation of the C-STOP Study
- Evaluation of Care Delivery by a Novel Multidisciplinary Bone Health Clinic for Patients at Risk of Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis
- Prior Adherence to Statins is a Predictor of Subsequent Adherence and Persistence to Oral, but not Parenteral, Osteoporosis Medications
- Long-Term Tolerability of the Bisphosphonates in Postmenopausal Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis Complications Research
Arthritis & Osteoporosis Research
Research Scientist
Dr. Raheem Kherani, BSc (Pharm), MD, MHPE
Rheumatologist | Clinician Investigator, Arthritis Research Canada
Dr. Carrie Ye, MD, MPH, FRCPC
Rheumatologist | Research Scientist, Arthritis Research Canada
Additional Resources
The biggest myth about osteoporosis – a condition that causes bones to weaken and fracture – is that it only affects older women. At least 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men will break a bone due to osteoporosis in their lifetime.
However, it is possible to reduce fracture risk by eating a healthy diet, getting appropriate amounts of vitamin D and calcium, and doing strength and posture training to prevent falls.
If you want to learn more about bone health, please review these resources.
Osteoporosis Canada
British Columbia Coalition of Osteoporosis Physicians
Physicians Taking Osteoporosis Referrals in British Columbia
Mary Pack Arthritis Program Arthritis Classes
Northern Alberta Osteoporosis Program
Covenant Health Osteoporosis Program
Dr. David Hanley Osteoporosis Centre
24-Hour Movement Guidelines
Otago Exercise Program
Bone Fit
I START Tool
Finding Balance Alberta
MelioGuide
Dietitians of Canada
British Columbia's Age Forward Strategy
The Safe Living Guide: A Guide to Home Safety for Seniors
National Osteoporosis Foundation
Feedback & Survey
Let us know what you think. Your feedback is important to us and helps inform future topics and episodes!