A short summary of the interview with
Assoc. Prof. ANNA-MARIA BOROSSOVA, University Hospital of Endocrinology, Sofia and the President of Bulgarian League for the Prevention of Osteoporosis
by Aida PANIKYAN
Broadcasted by Information AGENCY “BALKAN”
on May 15 2002 and published in the weekly “Fakel”-Kavarna on June 3,
This interview has the aim to show that the prevention could avert the
osteoporosis’ epidemic. According to BLPO, about 700 000 - 800 000
women and 160 000 men in Bulgaria suffer from osteoporosis. About 350
000
are in the initial stage of the osteoporosis and 90 000 are in
serious condition. Assoc. Prof. Borissova represents also the outcomes
of a doctor’s team studies, from the University Hospital of
Endocrinology in Sofia, done to 650 women. The conclusion is that only
0.3 percent of the Bulgarian women practice sports, 7 percent do
fitness and more than the half of them smoke. The data is quite
approximate, because in Bulgaria there is still no epidemoiology of the
osteoporosis, which means that there is no fixed economical cost of the
disease and its treatment. 
The good news is that recently the Ministry of
Health started the work at the National program for prevention and
treatment of osteoporosis. “Another good news is that the National
Health Insurance Found reimburses 50 % of most important drugs –
Evista, Calcetonin and Alendronate” said Borissova. She expresses her
great concern about the insufficient medical culture of the Bulgarian
population. It reflects on the children and adolescents also. Reduced
exercising in school age is one of the most important prerequisites for
osteoporosis development. Assoc. Prof. Borissova emphases that the
school programs should include more sport activities. She claims
that the prevention of the osteoporosis begins in the embryonic period
and
mainly depends on the behavior of the pregnant woman. Assoc. Prof.
Borissova
also explains some of the numerous life style factors that contribute
to
low bone density – lack of exercise, little calcium (because of the
fear that
dairy products contain cholesterol and fat), insufficient protein,
tobacco use in younger adults, and avoidance of sunlight in a skin
cancer-fearing world, as well, genetic and geography plays a
role. She also gives some
practical pieces of advice how osteoporosis could be prevented. In the
end
of the story there is given a brief information about the optimal daily
calcium
needs depend on age.
