New toolkit on the impact of FLS in Brazil - an IOF initiative to strengthen fracture prevention
The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), with the support of Amgen Brazil, has developed a new toolkit aiming at highlighting the clinical, economic and social value of Fracture Liaison Services (FLS).
At the core of the initiative is the report The Economic, Clinical and Patient Impact of FLS: A report based on success stories from three Latin American countries (O IMPACTO ECONÔMICO, CLÍNICO E NO PACIENTE DA FLS: Um relatório baseado em histórias de sucesso em três países da América Latina). The report seeks to raise awareness among healthcare managers and hospital decision-makers, inspire medical professionals, and demonstrate the value of coordinated post-fracture care programs.
The report brings together insights from regional experts who highlight the role of FLS in improving the quality of care for patients who have already experienced a fragility fracture, helping to reduce associated morbidity and mortality. It also underscores how these programs strengthen health systems by promoting systematic fracture risk assessment and the prevention of subsequent fractures. Key recommendations include establishing multidisciplinary FLS teams, improving the identification of patients at risk, implementing standardized treatment protocols, and ensuring regular follow-up to monitor treatment adherence and reduce the risk of refracture.
The report also examines the impact of fragility fractures in the region. In Brazil, for example, hip fractures represent a significant public health challenge: 61% occur in people aged over 60, with an incidence 1.7 times higher in women due to the prevalence of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Mortality following a hip fracture ranges from 5% to 25% within the first year, and only 40% of patients receive rehabilitation. The economic impact is also considerable. In 2024 alone, hospitalization costs for people aged over 60 exceeded R$35 million.
To help disseminate these findings, the initiative includes a comprehensive toolkit, available on the Capture the Fracture® platform. These materials are designed to support both communication with healthcare managers and patient education, and include:
- The full report, analysing the clinical, economic and social impact of FLS.
- A downloadable slide kit summarizing the report’s key messages, designed to facilitate presentations to healthcare managers, hospitals and health authorities.
- A ready-to-print poster (“Did you break a bone?”) that FLS services can download free of charge and display in clinics and hospitals to inform patients about the importance of evaluating their fragility fracture risk after a fracture.
- A patient leaflet, also titled “Did you break a bone?”, explaining what FLS are and why attending these services is key to preventing future fractures.
The kit is complemented by the infographic “Recognize the signs of a vertebral fracture”, designed to help identify warning symptoms and encourage early consultation with healthcare professionals.
Together, these resources—developed for Brazil and available in Portuguese—provide local FLS teams with practical tools to support awareness-raising activities, strengthen patient education, and clearly communicate the impact of coordinated post-fracture care models to healthcare managers and decision-makers.