3rd Middle East & Africa Osteoporosis Meeting to Put Special Focus on Bone and Diabetes

NYON, Switzerland and ABU-DHABI, UAE, July 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

Due to the ageing of the population and increasingly unhealthy lifestyles, both osteoporosis and diabetes - two serious chronic diseases - are affecting a growing proportion of the population in the Middle East. In response to the dramatic increase in these diseases within the region the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), in cooperation with the Emirates Osteoporosis Society (EOS), will be holding the 3rd Middle East & Africa Osteoporosis Meeting from December 5-7, 2015 in Abu Dhabi.

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For scientific program, to submit abstract or register http://bit.ly/1yyxhn0

Expected to be the region's largest medical event in the musculoskeletal field, the Meeting will present the latest research from the region and around the world. More than 60 sessions, including educational lectures and workshops will increase knowledge of the special challenges in the diagnosis and management of bone disease, including in diabetic patients. Plenary topics and speakers include:

• Fracture Prediction (JA Kanis) & Fracture Healing (SA Majeed)
• Vitamin D During the Lifecourse (I Zakraoui, C Cooper, G El Hajj Fuleihan)
• Who is at Risk and Who to treat? (M Al-Maini, T De Villiers, M Alshaker)
• Treat to Target (S Ferrari, J-Y Reginster)
• Challenges with Osteoporosis Therapy (A Khan, H Badsha)
• New Treatments, incl. sarcopenia (JY Reginster, R Rizzoli)

In addition there will be 10 Meet-the-Expert sessions, two workshops and a special session during which challenging cases can be discussed with the experts.

In the coming decades the region will be facing the highest proportional increase in hip fracture rates in the world, with rates projected to quadruple by 2050 in some countries. Diabetes (type 2) will affect close to one in 10 adults in the region, with cases rising rapidly.

Professor Serge Ferrari, Professor of Medicine at the Service of Bone Diseases, Geneva University Hospital, Switzerland and Scientific Programme Committee Co-Chair said, "Diabetics are now recognized as being at increased risk of fracture, posing a challenge for doctors who treat these patients. Through a dedicated workshop to be held prior to the start of the Meeting, we hope to raise awareness and increase knowledge of the diagnosis and management of bone disease in diabetic patients." The Workshop will address key issues including risk assessment, impact of new diabetes therapies, and osteoporosis management in diabetic patients. It will be co-chaired by Prof. Maha Taysir Barakat, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Health Authority.

Dr Abdulrahim Al Suhaili, President of the Emirates Osteoporosis Society (EOS) and Meeting Co-Chair stressed, "As a disease of increasing relevance, osteoporosis is not adequately addressed during medical training in most countries. For this reason, I encourage all health professionals who deal with osteoporotic patients to learn the latest management techniques by joining us in Abu Dhabi."

The 3^rd Middle East & Africa Osteoporosis Meeting is officially endorsed by the Abu Dhabi Health Services (SEHA) and HAAD.

Abstracts, to be published in the journal Osteoporosis International, are accepted until the deadline of August 14, 2015.

About IOF  

The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) is the world's largest nongovernmental organization dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis and related musculoskeletal diseases.

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Media contact    
Charanjit K. Jagait, PhD
IOF
Tel.: +41-22-994-01-02
Mob.: +41-79-874-52-08  
Email: cjagait@iofbonehealth.org