The Early Detection of Osteoporosis in a Cohort of Healthcare Workers: Is There Room for a Screening Program?

Carmela Rinaldi, Sara Bortoluzzi, Chiara Airoldi, Fabrizio Leigheb, Daniele Nicolini, Sophia Russotto, Kris Vanhaecht and Massimiliano Panella
Additional contact information
Carmela Rinaldi: Department of Translational Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont (UPO), 28100 Novara, Italy
Sara Bortoluzzi: Department of Translational Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont (UPO), 28100 Novara, Italy
Chiara Airoldi: Department of Translational Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont (UPO), 28100 Novara, Italy
Fabrizio Leigheb: Department of Translational Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont (UPO), 28100 Novara, Italy
Daniele Nicolini: Department of Translational Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont (UPO), 28100 Novara, Italy
Sophia Russotto: School of Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont (UPO), 28100 Novara, Italy
Kris Vanhaecht: KU Leuven Institute for Healthcare Policy, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
Massimiliano Panella: Department of Translational Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont (UPO), 28100 Novara, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 3, 1-7

Abstract: Workforce aging is becoming a significant public health problem due to the resulting emergence of age-related diseases, such as osteoporosis. The prevention and early detection of osteoporosis is important to avoid bone fractures and their socio-economic burden. The aim of this study is to evaluate the sustainability of a screening workplace program able to detect workers with osteoporosis. The screening process included a questionnaire-based risk assessment of 1050 healthcare workers followed by measurement of the bone mass density (BMD) with a pulse-echo ultrasound (PEUS) at the proximal tibia in the at-risk subjects. Workers with a BMD value ? 0.783 g/cm² were referred to a specialist visit ensuring a diagnosis and the consequent prescriptions. Any possible association between the outcome variable BMD ? 0.783 g/cm² and the risk factors was evaluated. The costs were calculated with a full costing method. We identified 60 pathological subjects. We observed increased risks for women, older ages, and menopause ( p < 0.01). The yearly cost of our screening program estimated for this study was 8242 euros, and, considering the fragility bone fracture costs, we hypothesize a considerable economic savings, with a possible positive benefits/cost ratio of 2.07. We can say that the margin between the investment and results leads to a preference for this type of screening program. Osteoporosis is an occupational health problem, and a workplace screening program could be a cost-effective intervention.

Keywords: osteoporosis; screening; prevention; public health; worker health; workplace (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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