The Europe-wide #ProtectUrLife campaign aims to improve prevention and care for cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis – two conditions that remain frequently underdiagnosed and often inadequately treated.
In November 2019, Amgen Switzerland and various partners held the #ProtectUrLife event for the second time: 400 interested people had their bone health and cardiovascular risk factors checked free of charge at the Museum of Transport in Lucerne.
Approaches to solving a global problem
The World Health Organization has declared osteoporosis a public health crisis. And the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) is calling on governments around the world to prioritize osteoporosis in healthcare. The conclusion of a panel discussion on this topic at the “Zukunft Alter” trade fair in Lucerne in November 2019 was that both politics and personal responsibility are required. Osteoporosis affects about 400,000 people in Switzerland. Every second woman and every fifth man over 50 suffers an osteoporosis-related fracture. For these individuals, the likelihood of suffering another fracture in the future is massively increased. For most of the untreated women at risk of fracture, the lack of a written diagnosis of osteoporosis is the main obstacle to therapy.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Switzerland (32%) and the third leading cause of hospitalization in adulthood (21,000). Approximately 15,000 myocardial infarctions and 13,000 ischemic strokes are recorded annually. After the onset of an acute coronary syndrome (ACS, myocardial infarction, or unstable angina), the 5-year cardiovascular mortality risk exceeds 20%. Although LDL cholesterol has been shown to be the most important risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the recommended target of 1.4 mmol/l is achieved in only one in ten patients with acute coronary syndrome.
#ProtectUrLife
Individual risk factors for cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis can be determined as part of the screenings offered by #ProtectUrLife. The 2018 #ProtectUrLife screening results showed that over 22% are at high risk for a major osteoporotic-related fracture. More information about the campaign is available at the following website: www.protecturlife.eu.
Source: Amgen
HAUSARZT PRAXIS 2020; 15(1): 36 (published 1/24/20, ahead of print).
