Objetivo The EC Biomed-1 funded European prospective Osteoporosis Study (EPOS) has as its main objective the need to explain the growing epidemic of hip and spine fractures with which Europe is confronted. Although fracture rates seem to be growing nearly everywhere there are wide geographical differences in rates between countries. EC costs amount to ECU 5.5 billion/year, and will rise to ECU 11 billion (at 1985 prices) in 10-20 Years due entirely to the ageing of the population. There has been a rising secular trend in the age-specific incidence, notably in central Europe. A recent retrospective analysis by Mikhailov suggests that an upward trend in hip fractures is beginning in Yaroslavl and Elektrostal (Russia). The resource demands imposed will threaten the achievement of public Health targets in many parts of Europe. EPOS Currently involves 26 clinical centres in the EC and COST countries, and 6 in the PECO countries. Our Moscow centre has already recruited their quota of subjects and performed baseline spinal X-rays for vertebral fracture prevalence. Yaroslavl have recently recruited their first 160 subjects. This request is to enable one additional centre from Russia and one each from Belarus, Latvia, Romania and Hungary to complete the prevalence study of vertebral (spine) fractures. Each will then proceed to the incidence study of hip and spine fractures and to the measurement of important risk factors, including bone density and a range of biochemical markers. The EU centres have already recruited, on average, 75% of their subjects with local funding to match. In three years over 500 hip fractures will occur. Centrally performed biochemistry and local densitometry will be combined with other epidemiological data in a search for multi-variable predictor(s) of fracture. This study has the potential to provide important future guidance to public Health authorities seeking to reduce the impact of osteoporosis. The PECO centres represented here will provide a most important contribution to EPOS through their unique demographic characteristics in countries with the lowest fracture rates in Europe which are only just beginning to rise. Programa(s) IC-PECO/COPERNICUS - Scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and European non-member countries, 1992- Tema(s) 0201 - CEEC participation in BIOMEDICAL AND HEALTH RESEARCH programme Convocatoria de propuestas Data not available Régimen de financiación CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinador MRC Clinical Research Centre Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección Watford Road HA1 3UJ Harrow Reino Unido Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos Participantes (2) Ordenar alfabéticamente Ordenar por aportación de la UE Ampliar todo Contraer todo Debrecen University of Medicine Hungría Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección 98,Nagyerdei krt. 4012 Debrecen Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos Institute of Rheumatology - Russian Academy of Medical Sciences Rusia Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección 34 A,Kashirskoye Shosse 115522 Moskva Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos