The National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF)-sponsored International Symposium on Osteoporosis (ISO) is designed to provide the most current and clinically relevant evidence-based information on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of osteoporosis. This will be accomplished through in-depth educational sessions addressing primary and secondary osteoporosis, clinical considerations and therapeutics, socio-behavioral medicine, nutrition, education, epidemiology, pathophysiology, genetics and emerging science.

In the U.S. today, ten million individuals already have osteoporosis and 34 million more have low bone mass, placing them at increased risk for the disease and related fractures. One in two women and one in four men age 50 and older are at risk for an osteoporosis-related fracture in their lifetime. The disease affects people of all ethnic backgrounds.

Increased life expectancy puts greater numbers at risk for osteoporosis, the need for early and accurate diagnosis becomes more critical. While osteoporosis can be reliably diagnosed, treated and prevented if often goes undetected in patients, leading to severe physical, social, functional and psychological consequences including increased mortality and morbidity.

Thus, improving the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis is a major challenge and priority for healthcare professionals. The programs that comprise the 8th International Symposium stress the practical application of science and research to the clinical management of patients with osteoporosis and low bone mass.

Overall Outcome Objectives
After participating in this International Symposium on Osteoporosis participants should be able to:

• Appreciate the significant threat of osteoporosis through the latest epidemiology of the disease
• Comprehend the physiology and genetics of osteoporosis in order to improve diagnosis and treatment
• Perform appropriate clinical assessments to determine potential presence of secondary osteoporosis
• Determine treatment options that consider both the secondary conditions and the osteoporosis
• Apply clinical decision-making tools for osteoporosis management within the medical practice environment
• Differentiate among FDA-approved medications and select appropriate therapies as indicated
• Utilize primary, secondary and tertiary treatment modalities for osteoporosis across the continuum of care
• Develop patient and consumer education programs within their practice and community
• Take advantage of available resources that can impact bone health and quality of life
• Comprehend emerging discoveries and their affect on the future of osteoporosis care