Tag: World Osteoporosis Day

Queen Margaret University marks World Osteoporosis Day

World Osteoporosis Day demands end to global neglect of osteoporosis care and treatment

Today, 20th October 2025, QMU proudly marks World Osteoporosis Day, reaffirming its commitment to addressing one of the most pressing yet under-recognised public health challenges of our time – osteoporosis.

In a bold call, the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) has deemed the response to osteoporosis as unacceptable, asking to end the global neglect in osteoporosis care and treatment.

Osteoporosis means “porous bone”. It is a condition where bones become thinner, less dense, and weaker, leading to an increased risk of fractures. It affects more than 500 million people worldwide, including approximately 250,00 people in Scotland.

Often dubbed the “silent disease,” osteoporosis develops gradually and is frequently diagnosed only after someone has had a bone fracture. Globally, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men over the age of 50 will experience an osteoporotic fracture in their lifetime. In Scotland, the rate is even higher, with 1 in 2 women over the age of 50 affected. With the UK’s ageing population, the prevalence of osteoporosis is expected to rise dramatically, leading to a growing concern amongst health professionals warning of an impending osteoporosis epidemic.

Alarmingly, according to the IOF, awareness of the condition remains low, even among healthcare professionals, and osteoporosis continues to be under prioritised within healthcare systems. As a result, up to 80% of individuals who experience a fracture caused by osteoporosis are never diagnosed with the condition or receive treatment for the underlying disease.

Health professionals and researchers at QMU have been working to change this narrative by promoting bone health and osteoporosis awareness through education, research and community engagement.

The Lydia Osteoporosis Plus Project (LOP) at QMU, launched in 2011, continues to lead the way in person-centred research and education. The project aims to transform how osteoporosis is understood and managed in health and social care settings.

Vicki Waqa, Nurse Lecturer with the Lydia Osteoporosis Plus Project at QMU, said: “In Scotland and across the world, osteoporosis in not treated as a priority.

“The neglect surrounding the condition can lead to devastating consequences, which include:

  • chronic pain;
  • disability;
  • loss of independence;
  • increased risk of future fractures;
  • premature death; and
  • the burden extends beyond individuals to families, healthcare systems, and economies.

“It is important that Scotland fosters a culture of proactive and preventative care that prioritises bone health and reduces the risk of fractures. It is imperative that clinicians do not neglect patients’ bone health, and that young people and adults understand how they can use diet, exercise and good lifestyle choices to create healthy bones and reduce their chances of developing osteoporosis in the future.”

More recently, the Lydia Osteoporosis Plus Project has expanded its outreach across the central belt introducing Osteoporosis Community Cafés at QMU, that warmlywelcome people living with osteoporosis and those who care for them.

Vicki explained: “We were overwhelmed by the demand to attend our first Osteoporosis Community Café this autumn, with most participants confirming that they had experienced a lack of understanding, specialist information and support from health professionals and services.

“The Lydia Osteoporosis Community Café offers a friendly, supportive environment where people can share their lived experiences, learn from one another, build connections and collaborate with the Lydia team to enhance research and education initiatives focused on bone health and wellbeing. 

“It was very evident there was a very strong demand for information, connection, and person-centred support from everyone who took part.”

Dr Karen Matthews, Lead for Lydia Plus Osteoporosis Project, confirmed: “The current situation is no longer acceptable. World Osteoporosis Day 2025 is not just about awareness – it’s a real demand for change.

“We are calling on the Scottish Government, GPs and other healthcare providers to recognise osteoporosis as a serious public health issue and to act accordingly. QMU will play an important part in educating future healthcare professionals and existing healthcare staff, but the powers that be must do more to tackle the impending epidemic of osteoporosis.”

During World Osteoporosis Week 2025, the Lydia Osteoporosis Plus Project team has been equipping its nursing students with knowledge and skills needed to effectively prevent, identify, and manage osteoporosis.

This initiative empowers the nurses of the future to play a leading role in reducing fracture risk and improving quality of life across all age groups. They will also share osteoporosis education provision with QMU’s paramedic science, physiotherapy and other allied health professional students.

By embedding bone health education into QMU’s undergraduate and postgraduate courses, the University is helping shape a healthcare workforce that’s equipped to address the growing global burden of osteoporosis.

Dr Matthews concluded: “On World Osteoporosis Day, we support the International Osteoporosis Foundation call for:

  • early diagnosis through bone density testing, especially for adults over 50 who experience fractures from minor incidents;
  • appropriate treatment and follow-up care to prevent future fractures; and
  • public and healthcare professional education to close the treatment gap.

“QMU is developing the next generation of researchers, nurses, and paramedics who are committed to delivering impactful, person-centred care and innovative solutions that make a real difference to the lives of people affected by osteoporosis.

“However, tackling this preventable crisis requires collective action — all health, research, and policy agencies must work together to prioritise bone health and improve outcomes for future generations.”

On World Osteoporosis Day 2025, we invite you to learn more about the work of the Lydia Osteoporosis Plus Project by viewing the latest initiatives on the website:

www.lydiaosteoporosis.org.

University develops care home workers as osteoporosis champions

WORLD OSTEOPOROSIS DAY – 20 OCTOBER

A university project, which is raising awareness of the shocking rise of osteoporosis in adults across the UK, is to provide specialist education for care home workers and community champions.

On World Osteoporosis Day (20th October ‘24) Queen Margaret University (QMU), Edinburgh announced that it is expanding its vital work to ensure osteoporosis is viewed as a public health priority.

The University team will be encouraging staff from care homes, and people living with the condition, to become better educated about the common bone disease which affects over 3 million people in the UK.

Osteoporosis is a common bone disease that weakens bones, making them fragile and more likely to break. Developing slowly over several years, it’s often only diagnosed when a fall or sudden impact causes a bone to fracture.

Affecting over 250,000 in Scotland and accounting for around 527,000 fractures per year in the UK, QMU’s Lydia Osteoporosis Project is passionate about raising awareness to help halt the rising numbers of people affected by the condition.

Although it is frequently perceived as a condition primarily affecting postmenopausal women (affecting 1 in 2 women over 50), evidence indicates that osteoporosis affects approximately 1 in 5 men over the age of 50.

Given its often ‘silent’ progression until fractures occur, it frequently evades diagnosis until it reaches an advanced stage.

Dr Karen Matthews, who leads the Lydia Osteoporosis Project at QMU, explained: “Osteoporosis silently undermines bone strength over time. Often, it remains undetected until a simple fall or sudden impact results in a debilitating fracture.

“Typically, individuals with osteoporosis experience fractures in their wrists, hips, or spinal bones. It can even lead to a broken rib or partial spinal bone collapse triggered by a mere cough or sneeze.

“Older people can develop the characteristic stooped posture as their spinal bones weaken and are unable to bear their body weight.”

Due to our increasing aging population, osteoporosis is now increasingly prevalent, with a high incidence of people with the condition living in a care home setting, as well as in the community.

Dr Matthews explained: “It is not always obvious that someone has osteoporosis, as it can essentially be a hidden disease. But it is critical that staff in care homes and health care settings develop a better understanding of the condition so they can prevent any unnecessary bone fractures when moving or handling patients.

“Care homes workers who may be moving people in and out of beds, chairs, wheelchairs etc., or even helping them wash or change, need to be aware of the condition, to avoid handling which may cause people’s weakened bones to fracture accidentally.

“Staff in care homes, healthcare professions and the public can all benefit from improved knowledge about preventing osteoporosis through lifestyle choices, physical activity, and a balanced, bone-healthy diet, as well as how to prevent unnecessary fractures.”

Dr Matthews emphasised: “We cannot underestimate the importance of care home staff when it comes to the care and welfare of our elderly population. We must invest in their education and professional development so they are equipped with the skills and knowledge to give the best care to their residents. 

“That’s why Queen Margaret University will be offering a number of free modules as scholarships to individuals working in the care home sector. We want to develop a community of Lydia Osteoporosis Champions who can help to raise awareness of this important condition within the sector.”

The QMU team is also keen to develop champions in the community who can work to reduce the incidence of osteoporosis within the population by promoting good bone health and preventative behaviours such as weight bearing exercise and healthy eating.

Dr Matthews concluded: “Osteoporosis is now such a significant health problem in today’s society that it needs to be viewed and addressed as a public health priority.

“Education and research are key to raising awareness. That’s why we are ensuring it’s taught as part of our undergraduate and postgraduate healthcare professional courses at QMU, and in our PgDip Advancing Care Home Practice (Person-Centred Practice).

“But we also need to reach people who are already in healthcare roles to spread awareness of knowledge across healthcare settings. Partnerships with staff in care homes and other healthcare settings are going to be crucial to our development of Lydia Osteoporosis Champions. 

“Ultimately this will improve person-centred care of people living with osteoporosis across our care home sector, and reduce the prevalence of this worrying condition in Scotland and the UK.”