The Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study

Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by a reduction in the quantity and/or quality of bone leading to decreased bone strength and an increased predisposition to fracture. It is the most common bone disease in humans, represents a major public health problem in an aging society, and produces a highly significant financial burden on the health care system. There are both genetic and environmental influences that contribute to its development, although most have yet to be defined. The Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study (CaMos) is a trans-Canadian study which, in 1995, recruited 9423, mainly Caucasian, women and men over age 25 from the region surrounding 9 Canadian cities from Vancouver, BC to St John`s, NFLD. CaMos collected medical, biochemical (including genetic) and radiologic information at intervals over the years in these randomly selected participants which is unprecedented in Canada and unique worldwide. However in light of increasing ethnocultural diversity in Canada, visible minorities now represent almost 20% of the Canadian population Our current objectives are to examine the demographics of osteoporosis in a new cohort of participants of Chinese origin (one of the largest Canadian non-Caucasian groups), to compare these with our existing group of CaMos participants, and to identify genetic and environmental determinants of osteoporosis in these populations. These studies should improve our capacity to better identify those at risk for osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures, and lead to improved strategies for modifying lifestyles and to potential new drugs for treatment. The consequences should therefore be improved prevention of fractures in the elderly, which is a major cause of illness and death, and lead to a reduction in the health care burden of this disease.