P R E S S   R E L E A S E

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With substantial research findings and the strongest team in Asia for the study of osteoporosis, The Chinese University of Hong Kong sets up the Asia Pacific first specialised centre for osteoporosis care and control, dedicated to the prevention, treatment and research of the disease.  The major purpose of the centre is to prevent this silent epidemic in this millennium for spreading.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has generously donated $41 million for the establishment of the Jockey Club Centre for Osteoporosis Care and Control to promote bone health and better quality of life for osteoporosis patients.

 Everyday in Hong Kong, ten elderly subjects fracture their hips.  Osteoporosis is among the top 5 conditions in causing disability and prolonged hospital stay for elderly.  The total health care cost for osteoporosis is projected to reach $1,000 million by 2010.  Besides, osteoporosis makes the life of the elderly very miserable.  The only cost-effective approach to this problem is primary prevention and treatment of high risk patients.

The mission of the Centre is “Towards healthier bone for all, and an improved quality of life for osteoporosis sufferers”.  This is achieved through four main programmes of the Centre: screening and treatment, rehabilitation and patient support, primary prevention and health education, and training for medical and health professionals.

The Osteoporosis Research Programme of the Chinese University has conducted extensive research into the epidemiology, etiology, treatment and prevention of osteoporosis.  With the establishment of the Centre, these research findings can be put into practice and further research will be enhanced.   The research projects at the Chinese University include:

Searching for osteoporosis genes
Genetic mapping for osteoporosis has been carried out in a large sample of men and women. Genes for osteoporosis are different between Caucasian and Chinese; and between men and women.  Based on the existing findings, genome studies would be performed.
                                                                        Caucasians       Chinese men   Chinese women
Vitamin D Receptor gene                                         +                       -                      -
Fok I gene                                                             +/-                      -                      -
Estrogen receptor gene                                            +                       -                 significant
COLIA I gene                                                          Mutation does not exist in Chinese
COLIA II gene                                                      +/-                      +                     -
Transforming Growth Factor gene                            +                       -                     -

Searching for the best drugs for osteoporosis
Large-scale randomised controlled clinical trials have been conducted in search for the best drugs for osteoporosis.  The drug alendronate has been found to be well-tolerated by Chinese.  A dosage of 10mg increased bone mineral density by 5% per year.  Long-term use will reduce the rate of fracture by 50%.  Hormonal replacement therapy had similar effects in postmenopausal women.  Calcitonin was found to be associated with significant analgesic effects in patients with vertebral fracture.

Searching for the causes of osteoporosis in Asian populations
The incidence of hip fracture increased by 200% in the last 20 years in Hong Kong.  Large scale epidemiological studies in the Asian-Pacific region showed that the following lifestyle factors may cause osteoporosis: a low calcium diet, a lack of physical activity, cigarette smoking and alcoholism.  The increasing use of oral and inhaled steroid had been found to be a major cause of osteoporosis in studies of our patients.  It is recommended that Hong Kong citizens maintain a dietary intake of 800mg of calcium in a day, perform 3 times of loading bearing activities (of 30 minutes duration) each week, and avoid cigarette smoking and alcoholism.  Patients on steroid therapy must be put on medications for osteoporosis.

The establishment of the Centre also received strong support from the International Osteoporosis Foundation and the World Health Organisation.