HKU bone fracture screening

As Hong Kong faces a growing "fracture tsunami" driven by an ageing population, the University of Hong Kong has partnered with community pharmacies to launch the city's first pharmacist-led osteoporosis screening programme, aiming to identify hidden high-risk patients before fractures occur.

Osteoporosis is a common bone disease in Hong Kong that can lead to fractures and a higher risk of death for elderly people. But many people are not diagnosed until a fracture occurs, because it rarely causes symptoms in early stages.

To address the problem, HKU School of Medicine has partnered with four community pharmacies to launch the city's first screening programme, using its self-developed questionnaire COSA to help identify hidden high-risk patients.

Associated Professor, LKS Fcaulty of Medicine, HKU CHEUNG CHING-LUNG: "The COSA stands for Chinese Osteoporosis Screening Algorithm, which is a simple to use, easy to use questionnaire including four questions: age, sex, weight and history of fracture."

By using this, community pharmacists can assess an individual's risk of developing osteoporosis, with an accuracy rate of between 74 and 94 percent.

More than 1,000 high-risk individuals have been invited to take part. Around 60% agreed to be screened, and more than 100 people identified as being at very high risk have been referred for further assessment.

Researchers hope the programme will shift osteoporosis care from treatment to prevention, helping reduce avoidable fractures in Hong Kong.

Programme Director of Primary Health Care Service,CFSC KONG CHING-YUE: "We advise you when you have any question on your health and bone density, you can come visit your community pharmacy at your convenience."