Conference Description

October 1, 2005
Sheraton Suites Country Club Plaza
770 W. 47th Street
Kansas City, MO 64112
(816) 931-4400

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CME Credits 3.0*

Nonrefundable registration fee: $0.

Target Audience: Specialists in osteoporosis(rheumatologists, endocrinologists, and OB-GYNs), primary care physicians, nurse practitioners and physician’s assistants.

Program Summary:
In October 2004, the first ever U.S. Surgeon Generals report on Bone Health and Osteoporosis was released. In it, Surgeon General Carmona warned that by 2020 one half of U.S. citizens over the age of 50 would be at risk for fractures and low bone density. The report also highlighted the significant advances that have been made over the past two decades in the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis. The purpose of this program is to review recent progress in our understanding of the epidemiology and pathogenesis of osteoporosis and how fracture risk can be substantially reduced using a range of approved medications. The efficacy and mechanisms of action of antiresorptive agents will be reviewed in depth and contrasted with those of anabolic agents. The potential benefits of combined and/or sequential use of these two classes of drug will also be considered. In addition, new treatment options currently in clinical trials will be discussed. In his report, Dr. Carmona concluded that all health care professionals can play a critical role in reducing the socioeconomic burden of osteoporosis. In order to achieve this, it is key that health care professionals are fully conversant with current standards of diagnosis and management of osteoporosis and are aware of new drugs on the horizon.

Scope of the problem: Fractures due to bone disease are common, costly, and often become a chronic burden on individuals and society. An estimated 1.5 million people in the U.S. suffer an osteoporosis-related fracture annually.

The 1.5 million osteoporosis-related fractures lead to more than 500,000 hospitalizations, over 800,000 emergency room visits, greater than 2.6 million doctor’s office visits, and 180,000 nursing home admissions. The magnitude of the problem will continue to grow as the average age of the population increases.

Learning Objectives:
At the conclusion of this program, participants should be able to:

1. To describe recent data on the epidemiology and pathogenesis of osteoporosis.
2. To apply recent guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis.
3. To evaluate the efficacy of available anti-fracture agents, understand their mechanism of action, and make appropriate recommendations for treatment of patients with osteoporosis.
4. To discuss the potential benefits of combined and/or sequential therapy with antiresorptive and anabolic agents.
5. To describe the potential benefits of new anti-fracture agents in development.

Agenda:

8:00-8:45 am		Registration and Continental Breakfast Welcome
8:45-9:45 am		Osteoporosis: Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment Guidelines in 2005
9:45-10:45 am		Antiresorptive Therapies: Efficacy, Mechanism of Action, and New Developments
10:45-11:00 am		Break
11:00 am-Noon		Anabolic Therapies: Efficacy, Mechanism of Action, and New Developments

Faculty:
David W. Dempster, PhD, Program Chair
Professor of Clinical Pathology
College of Physicians and Surgeons
Columbia University, New York, NY
Director, Regional Bone Center
Helen Hayes Hospital
West Haverstraw, NY

Mark P. Ettinger, MD, FACR
Medical Director Emeritus
Radiant Research
The Regional Osteoporosis Center
Stuart, Florida

*Continuing Education Information
This activity has been reviewed and is acceptable for up to 3.0 Prescribed credit hours by the American Academy of Family Physicians.

This program was supported through educational grants from the following companies: Amgen, GSK, Lilly, Novartis, Roche, sanofi-aventis.