Personalized paths for physical activity: developing a person-centered quantitative function to determine a customized amount of exercise and enhancing individual commitment.

BACKGROUND: Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are leading causes of mortality. These conditions are also known as chronic diseases of long duration and generally slow progression. Physical activity (PA) is a main factor to delay symptoms and consequences of NCDs. In last decades, reduced physical exercise has been observed across all ages. Despite educational campaigns aimed at modifying unhealthy habits, it is difficult to promote healthy lifestyles in general population. Poor interest, lack of motivation, as well as career and family commitments hinder people's participation in regular PA programs. In this study we propose a theoretical person-centred approach to actively involve general population in enhancing their opportunity to perform PA based on personalized needs and targets. METHODS: We defined four profiles of baseline PA levels (inactive, moderately inactive, moderately active, and active people) by referring to Metabolic equivalents (METs) based on individual answers to General Practice Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPPAQ). RESULTS: Based on the answers to the GPPAQ and by computing the related METs for each profile of baseline exercise levels, we developed an innovative person-centered web-based algorithm/function for enhancing and measuring PA participation in community settings. This function can compute evidence-based standardized profiles of participants, personalized goals of PA being functional to the purpose of maintaining or gaining health benefits, as well as the type and duration of PA needed to reach these goals. CONCLUSION: It might be speculated that this approach would be a reliable method for increasing people's self-efficacy and population adherence to recommended levels of PA. However, this theoretical proposal requires to be implemented in further research.

Back pain-related disability and quality of life in patients affected by vertebral fractures: data from baseline characteristics of population enrolled in Denosumab In Real Practice (DIRP).

BACKGROUND: Spine fragility fractures lead to a significant acute and/or chronic pain and worsening of quality of life. Denosumab is effective in reducing the risk of new vertebral fractures, but its effectiveness on pain relief and improvement of the quality of life in patients with spine fractures are not well known. AIM: The aim of this paper is to describe the baseline demographic and clinical characteristics, back pain-related disability and quality of life of the Denosumab In Real Practice (DIRP) study population. METHODS: DIRP is a multicenter prospective observational study evaluating the effectiveness of denosumab in reducing back pain-related disability and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) of women with postmenopausal osteoporosis who had already experienced at least one vertebral fragility fracture. Our evaluation protocol includes history of fractures, Spine Pain Index (SPI), HRQoL, bone mineral density (BMD) and radiological assessment of vertebral fragility fractures. RESULTS: Two hundred and twenty-three post-menopausal women, who received a prescription for denosumab, were enrolled. The mean SPI score was 58.6 ± 21.4 SD, and 187 (83.86%) women experienced a moderate-severe pain. The mean HRQoL health state value was 0.54 ± 0.27 SD using EQ-5D index, whereas the mean Physical and Mental Health Composite Scale scores derived from the SF-12 were 31.06 ± 7.77 SD and 39.20 ± 11.03 SD. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Baseline characteristics of DIRP study cohort indicate that patients who received a prescription of denosumab in Campania region are affected by severe osteoporosis with highly prevalent vertebral fractures, disabling back pain and poor health-related quality of life. This is in contradiction with what it is expected by a front-line drug for osteoporosis.

Bone quality and bone strength: benefits of the bone-forming approach.

The ability of bone to resist fracture depends on the intrinsic properties of the materials that comprise the bone matrix mineralization, the amount of bone (i.e. mass), and the spatial distribution of the bone mass (i.e. microarchitecture). Antiresorptive agents may prevent the decay of cancellous bone and cortical thinning, with no improvement of bone microstructure, leading to a partial correction of the principal bone quality defect in osteoporosis, the disruption of trabecular microarchitecture. Anabolic agents promote bone formation at both trabecular and endocortical surfaces, resulting in an increase of cancellous bone volume and cortical thickness. The improvement of cortical bone strength may be limited by an increase in cortical porosity. strontium ranelate improves trabecular network and cortical thickness that will contribute to anti-fracture efficacy at both vertebral and non-vertebral sites. The results of clinical and experimental studies are consistent with the mode of action of strontium involving dissociation between bone formation and resorption leading to a stimulation both trabecular and cortical bone formation without increasing cortical porosity.

Physical exercise and sarcopenia in older people: position paper of the Italian Society of Orthopaedics and Medicine (OrtoMed).

Sarcopenia is the age-associated loss of skeletal muscle mass and function. It is a major clinical problem for older people and research in understanding of pathogenesis, clinical consequences, management, and socioeconomic burden of this condition is growing exponentially. The causes of sarcopenia are multifactorial, including inflammation, insulin resistance, changing endocrine function, chronic diseases, nutritional deficiencies and low levels of physical activity. Operational definition of sarcopenia combines assessment of muscle mass, muscle strength and physical performance. The diagnosis of sarcopenia should be based on having a low appendicular fat free mass in combination with low handgrip strength or poor physical functioning. Imaging techniques used for estimating lean body mass are computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, bioelectrical impedance analysis and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, the latter considered as the preferred method in research and clinical use. Pharmacological interventions have shown limited efficacy in counteracting the age-related skeletal muscle wasting. Recent evidence suggests physical activity and exercise, in particular resistance training, as effective intervention strategies to slow down sarcopenia. The Italian Society of Orthopaedics and Medicine (Or-toMed) provides this position paper to present the update on the role of exercise on sarcopenia in the elderly.

Evaluation of persistence and adherence to teriparatide treatment in patients affected by severe osteoporosis (PATT): a multicenter observational real life study.

INTRODUCTION: Osteoporosis is a chronic condition leading to an increased risk of developing fractures, with high morbidity and mortality in aging population. Efficacy of anti-osteoporotic treatment is based on drug potency but also on compliance and persistence to treatment regimen, which is very low, as already described for other diseases. Teriparatide (TPTD) is the first anabolic agent developed for the treatment of osteoporosis. Since it appears that persistence to Teriparatide declines over time, aim of this pilot multicenter observational study was to evaluate persistence and adherence to TPTD (20 µg daily injection regimen for 18 months) treatment (PATT) in patients affected by severe osteoporosis in an every day clinical practice. METHODS: Patients affected by severe osteoporosis were selected among those who referred to 5 different specialized centers for osteoporosis in North, Center and South of Italy. A sample of 475 women with severe postmenopausal osteoporosis treated with TPTD in accordance to the Italian osteoporosis guidelines was included. At the beginning of TPTD treatment patients were instructed on the use of the device by the referring specialist of the center, a resident fellow or a nurse. Bone biochemical markers were evaluated the same morning and after 1, 3, 6, 12 and 18 months. Patients were visited at time 0 and after 6, 12 and 18 months for clinical follow up. RESULTS: The results included observations of 441/475 patients (98% women) who completed the 18 months treatment; mean age for women was 73±8 and for men 65±9. After 6 months of TPTD treatment persistence was of 89,79%, 87,75% after 12 months and 86,85% after 18 months. Adherence was of 100% at 6,12 and 18 months. Total dropouts were 13,15% (71/441), which was usually higher within the first 6 months of TPTD treatment. Most common adverse events (arthralgies 2,7%, dizziness 1,8%, migraine 1,8%, depression 1,6%, hypertension 1,1%) were reported in 62/441 patients (14%) of patients, but were not reason for stopping treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The persistence and adherence to TPTD treatment obtained in this multicenter observational real life study was very high as compared to studies performed by others. These encouraging results suggest that different key factors such quality of information, frequency of visits, motivations given to patients, opportunity to call the doctor might play a pivotal role in the high persistence and adherence to TPTD treatment obtained in our study and need to be carefully considered before prescribing chronic anti-osteoporotic therapy.

Effectiveness of teriparatide treatment on back pain-related functional limitations in individuals affected by severe osteoporosis: a prospective pilot study.

INTRODUCTION: Vertebral fractures have been associated with back pain, functional limitations and reduced health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Teriparatide is the first effective anabolic agent that demonstrated to significantly reduce the risk of vertebral fracture by 65%, as compared to placebo. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effectiveness of teriparatide treatment on back pain-related functional limitations and to investigate on patients HRQoL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective observational pilot study osteoporotic patients, who were prescribed teriparatide therapy and a supplementation of calcium and vitamin D, were asked to answer to two self-administered questionnaires: the Spine Pain Index (SPI) and the SF-12 (at the recruitment, after 6, 12, and 18 months). RESULTS: Fifty-two women were evaluated (mean age of 70.58 yrs). The mean SPI score passed from 50.01 at baseline to 32.20 at 18 months. The mean SF-12 PCS score passed from 30.00 at baseline to 36.79 at 18 months, while the mean SF-12 MCS score was already within the normality range at baseline, constantly improving during the 18 months. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, 18 months of treatment with teriparatide has to be considered an effective therapeutic option for women with severe osteoporosis and vertebral fractures, in a real-life clinical setting, to improve both back pain related disability and quality of life.

Neuropsychiatric disorders in hip fracture.

Hip fractures most frequently occur in the elderly population. They are mainly caused by falls from standing position. The presence of several comorbidities, in particular neuropsychiatric disorders, are related to high percentages of falls, disability and mortality rates. Delirium and depression are the two most common mental disorders in this population.Delirium is strongly related to an increase of functional limitation in activities of daily living, a decline in walking autonomy, and a higher rate of nursing home placement or death. A multi-factorial intervention program, consisting of oxygen supplementation, intravenous fluid supplementation and extra-nutrition, accurate monitoring of vital signs, adequate pain treatment, daily delirium screening, reduction in drug use, and modification in peri-operative management, should always be performed in good clinical practice.Patients who undergo surgery frequently experience depression that can worsening functional outcome. An early detection and an adequate intervention based on psychological support and pharmacological treatment can give good results.We propose a simple flow chart for the management of elderly hip fracture patients that should be used in both Orthopaedics and Rehabilitative settings.

Periprosthetic bone density as outcome of therapeutic response.

The bone surrounding a prosthetic implant normally experiences a progressive quantitative reduction as a result of stress shielding and wear debris production, that can lead to the aseptic loosening of the implant. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), using software algorithms, can ensure a surrogate measure of load redistribution after the implant of the prosthetic components and can be a valid tool to evaluate the efficacy of pharmacological therapy to reduce the periprosthetic bone loss. In several animal and human studies DXA has been able to quantify antiresorptive action of bisphosphonates in the periprosthetic area.