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Global impact of COVID-19 on non-communicable disease management: descriptive analysis of access to FRAX fracture risk online tool for prevention of osteoporotic fractures.
McCloskey, E V; Harvey, N C; Johansson, H; Lorentzon, M; Vandenput, L; Liu, E; Kanis, J A.
  • McCloskey EV; Department of Oncology and Metabolism, Academic Unit of Bone Metabolism, Metabolic Bone Centre, Northern General Hospital, Centre for Integrated Research in Musculoskeletal Ageing, Mellanby Centre for Bone Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S5 7AU, UK. e.v.mccloskey@shef.ac.uk.
  • Harvey NC; Centre for Metabolic Bone Diseases, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK. e.v.mccloskey@shef.ac.uk.
  • Johansson H; MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
  • Lorentzon M; NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK.
  • Vandenput L; Centre for Metabolic Bone Diseases, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
  • Liu E; Mary McKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Australia.
  • Kanis JA; Mary McKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Australia.
Osteoporos Int ; 32(1): 39-46, 2021 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-871443
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic, and its management, is markedly impacting the management of osteoporosis as judged by access to online FRAX fracture risk assessments. Globally, access was 58% lower in April than in February 2020. Strategies to improve osteoporosis care, with greater use of fracture risk assessments, offer a partial solution.

INTRODUCTION:

The COVID-19 pandemic is having a significant detrimental impact on the management of chronic diseases including osteoporosis. We have quantified the global impact by examining changes in the usage of online FRAX fracture risk assessments before and after the declaration of the pandemic (11 March 2020).

METHODS:

The study comprised a retrospective analysis using GoogleAnalytics data on daily sessions on the FRAX® website ( www.sheffield.ac.uk/FRAX ) from November 2019 to April 2020 (main analysis period February-April 2020), and the geographical source of that activity.

RESULTS:

Over February-April 2020, the FRAX website recorded 460,495 sessions from 184 countries, with 210,656 sessions in February alone. In March and April, the number of sessions fell by 23.1% and 58.3% respectively, a pattern not observed over the same period in 2019. There were smaller reductions in Asia than elsewhere, partly related to earlier and less-marked nadirs in some countries (China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea and Vietnam). In Europe, the majority of countries (24/31, 77.4%) reduced usage by at least 50% in April. Seven countries showed smaller reductions (range - 2.85 to - 44.1%) including Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Germany, Norway, Sweden and Finland. There was no significant relationship between the reduction in FRAX usage and measures of disease burden such as COVID-attributed deaths per million of the population.

CONCLUSION:

This study documents a marked global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the management of osteoporosis as reflected by FRAX online fracture risk assessments. The analysis suggests that impact may relate to the societal and healthcare measures taken to ameliorate the pandemic.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Osteoporosis / Disease Management / Internet / Osteoporotic Fractures / COVID-19 Type of study: Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: Osteoporos Int Journal subject: Metabolism / Orthopedics Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S00198-020-05542-6

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Osteoporosis / Disease Management / Internet / Osteoporotic Fractures / COVID-19 Type of study: Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: Osteoporos Int Journal subject: Metabolism / Orthopedics Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S00198-020-05542-6