Brussels, 04/12/2001 (Agence Europe) - The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) launched an appeal in the European Parliament on Tuesday, in the presence of Commissioner David Byrne and British Labour MEP Imelda Read for action by the European Community to stem the development of osteoporosis, disease that affects bone tissue and plays in favour of fractures. According to a report made pubic on that occasion, the number of osteoporotic hip fractures has risen by over 25% in the European Community since 1998 to reach an annual figure in excess of 480,0000 fractures. The cost of osteoporosis has increased by some 33% over the same period and now stands at over 4.8 billion euro a year for hospital care alone. Due to the ageing of the population, the number of people suffering from osteoporosis will probably multiply by two to five over the next five years. Measures taken in the Community, and in Member States, have hardly been conclusive. The most urgent task is to obtain health systems financing osteodensimetric tests (measures of bone density: Ed.) and treatments the effectiveness of which are known so that people presenting risks may benefit from them before the first fracture appears.
Commission Byrne replied favourably to this appeal. He referred to his intention of acting at EU level so as to encourage prevention and treatment of this bone disease that affects a growing number of post-menopausal women. After 50, one woman in three and one man in eight develop bone fragility with increased risks of fractures. Mr. Byrne said that the Commission would soon be assessing measures taken by Member States to implement the recommendations adopted at Union level in 1998.