European Congress on Osteoporosis & Osteoarthritis starts in Rome

European Congress on Osteoporosis & Osteoarthritis (ESCEO13-IOF) welcomes 4,500 delegates from around the world; latest research presented in more than 850 scientific abstracts

The world's largest congress dedicated to the epidemiology, pathogenesis, prevention, and treatment of osteoporosis and osteoarthritis has opened today in Rome, Italy with 4500 delegates.

The European Congress on Osteoporosis & Osteoarthritis (ESCEO13-IOF), which continues until April 20th at the Rome Cavalieri, is jointly organized by the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis (ESCEO) and the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF).

ESCEO President Jean-Yves Reginster said, "The Chairs of the Scientific Programme Committee, Professor Ren- Rizzoli and Professor Cyrus Cooper, have planned an extraordinary programme which covers both the latest advances in clinical practice and the most current research in the field. Over the next three days delegates can look forward to hearing about many exciting new developments as well as having the opportunity to meet leading researchers and clinicians from around the world."

Preceded by a special symposium on similarities and differences in osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, ESCEO13-IOF opening ceremony featured an Honorary Lecture on bone deformities in antiquity by Professor V-ronique Dasen, followed by the presentation of prestigious awards.

The Congress will continue with eight plenary lectures by leading experts in the bone field, including Ego Seeman, Eric Orwoll, Steffen Gay, Robert E. Coleman, Mary Bouxsein, Eugene McCloskey, Colin Farquharson, and Cyrus Cooper. Eleven special symposia will focus on the latest advances in a wide variety of areas, including treatment, guidelines, vitamin D, quality of life in frailty and sarcopenia, biological markers in osteoarthritis, secondary fracture prevention, and other topics of relevance to every day clinical practice.

Oral and poster presentations from more than 850 submitted abstracts will showcase the latest research in the field. For the first time, 'poster guided tours' will be offered by experts in order to provide special insight into selected key abstracts. The abstracts have been published in the scientific journal 'Osteoporosis International', Volume 24, Supplement 1, 2013.

The joint IOF and ESCEO annual meetings have also become a key forum for translational bone science. The 3rd IOF-ESCEO Pre-Clinical Symposium on April 18, chaired by Professor Anna Teti, will feature eight plenary lectures by key pre-clinical researchers in the area of musculoskeletal disorders.

"Musculokskeletal disorders, including osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, are the second greatest cause of disability worldwide," said IOF President Professor John A. Kanis. "Through this annual congress, IOF and ESCEO are contributing to the advancement of research and health professional knowledge in this important field.

"We hope that the delegates will benefit from the enriching programme, and are able to take home valuable new knowledge that translates into improved care for their patients."