Musculoskeletal conditions and related bone and joint disorders place a heavy burden on individuals and healthcare systems worldwide. Today, investigators and clinicians from all regions of the world will take part in the virtual World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (Virtual WCO-IOF-ESCEO 2021), a key annual CME-accredited event which presents new clinical research, and the latest advances in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of these serious disorders. The Congress is hosted by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) and the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (ESCEO). 

Accredited with 16 European CME credits (ECMEC) by the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME), the scientific program has been developed by the respective scientific advisory committees of the IOF and ESCEO, under the leadership of Professors Cyrus Cooper (Chair, IOF President), Jean-Yves Reginster (Chair, ESCEO President), René Rizzoli (Chair, ESCEO Scientific Advisory Board) and John A. Kanis (IOF Honorary President). 

The extensive programme covers a broad range of topics within the fields of osteoporosis and fracture prevention, osteoarthritis, skeletal rare diseases, frailty and sarcopenia. It will include 10 Plenary Sessions, 24 Non-Sponsored Symposia, 14 Meet-The-Expert Sessions, 35 oral communications selected from abstracts, 29 oral presentations of selected posters, 5 educational lectures, and 7 industry-sponsored symposia. A virtual exhibition area will present interactive ‘booths’ showcasing the work of ESCEO, IOF and IOF member organizations, as well as new products and services from leading companies in the field. 

Participants, which include rheumatologists, endocrinologists, orthopaedists, gerontologists, gynaecologists, imaging and rehabilitation specialists, as well as allied health professionals, will be able to follow many of the virtual sessions in live format, with opportunity for questions and answers. Registrants will have online access to all the sessions for a period of three months following the Congress. 

Professor Jean-Yves Reginster, Congress Co-Chair and President of ESCEO stated: 

“Age-related chronic disorders such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and sarcopenia represent an enormous and rapidly growing human and socioeconomic burden. There is a pressing need for action to stem the tide of disability and early death due to such disorders, and it is vitally important that we, as physicians and investigators, stay continually abreast of new research, clinical advances and proven preventive strategies.” 

IOF President and Congress Co-Chair Professor Cyrus Cooper, added: 

“We look forward to a successful and enriching Congress that will deliver new insights and provide guidance for clinical best-practice that will help our participants from all regions of the world deliver improved patient care. I thank our scientific programme committee and expert speakers for their input and contributions to the excellent scientific programme.”

Topics to be discussed at the Congress include new treatments and management strategies in osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and sarcopenia; bone fragility in cancer; frailty; skeletal rare disorders; FRAX fracture risk assessment; bone microstructure; inflammation and musculoskeletal ageing; calcium and vitamin D in osteoporosis management; microbiota and bone disease; novel skeletal assessment technologies; and many more important or emerging topics in the field.

The more than 1000 submitted abstracts will be published in the scientific journal ‘Osteoporosis International’. 

With the closing of the 2021 Congress, planning will continue for WCO-IOF-ESCEO 2022, which will take place in Berlin, Germany from March 24-27, 2022.   

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About the World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis & Musculoskeletal Diseases (WCO-IOF-ESCEO)
Held jointly by IOF and ESCEO, the WCO-IOF-ESCEO annual congress is the world’s largest forum for the presentation of clinical research and new advances in the prevention and management of musculoskeletal disorders, including sarcopenia and frailty. WCO-IOF-ESCEO 2021 will be held as a virtual congress from August 26 to 28, 2021, with access on demand for registrants up to three months following the congress. For complete information visit http://virtual.wco-iof-esceo.org/  #OsteoCongress

About IOF
The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) is the world's largest nongovernmental organization dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis and related musculoskeletal diseases. IOF members, including committees of scientific researchers as well as 268 patient, medical and research societies, work together to make fracture prevention and healthy mobility a worldwide heath care priority. https://www.osteoporosis.foundation  @iofbonehealth

About ESCEO
The European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (ESCEO) is a non-profit organization, dedicated to a close interaction between clinical scientists dealing with rheumatic disorders, pharmaceutical industry developing new compounds in this field, regulators responsible for the registration of such drugs and health policy makers, to integrate the management of osteoporosis and osteoarthritis within the comprehensive perspective of health resources utilization. The objective of ESCEO is to provide practitioners with the latest clinical and economic information, allowing them to organize their daily practice, in an evidence-based medicine perspective, with a cost-conscious perception. www.esceo.org