November 6, 2009
World Osteoporosis Day press conference in Budapest attracts great media coverage

The Hungarian Osteoporosis Patients Association (HOPA) together with Hungarian Society of Osteporosis and Osteoarthrology organized a press conference which attracted a high level of media coverage. The focus of the discussion were the topics of FRAX®, Osteolink, and the current reimbursement situation in Hungary.
In addition to HOPA, other societies and institutes (like the Bone&Joint Decade, Visegrad Rehabilitation Hospital, Foundation for Health and Consumers, Scientific Association of Healthy Aging and Health Economy Research Institute) were represented by an expert speaker at the event.

Fractures, risk factors, pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions, osteoporosis and fracture management cost, patient compliance and quality of life were also discussed. The conference was moderated by the well known medical journalist, Erzsebet Fazekas.
Dr. Csaba Horvath (Hungarian Society of Osteoporosis and Osteoarthrology, president) and Klara Zalatnai (Hungarian Osteoporosis Patient Association, president) were invited for a special broadcast by the anchor person of the women's program in Klubradio and a few days later Dr. Katalin Bors, head of Visegrad Rehabilitation Hospital and Klara Zalatnai, were invited to speak at the Jam Light program on TV Chanel ATV.


September 25, 2009
HOPA wins IOF-AMGEN Health Professional Awareness Grant in Beijing

HOPA was awarded one of five valuable IOF-AMGEN Health Professional Awareness Grants on September 24, 2009 during the IOF Worldwide Conference of Osteoporosis Patient Societies. The aim of the grants are to support innovative and cost effective projects by IOF member societies that focus on improving knowledge and raising awareness of osteoporosis among clinicians and allied health professionals.
HOPA’s winning project is to make a video clip, and distribute CDs of an entertaining ‘role play’ that proved very successful at a previous osteoporosis patient forum. The role play was originally performed at one of HOPA’s Osteoporosis Patient Forums by two women doctors with contributions from a dietetician, physiotherapeutist, etc. The information provided was easy to understand. Case studies and questions raised by the patients were put into dialogs, which were taken from real life mixed with a lot of humor. The feedback was great, the patients themselves said that they were able to learn much more than through traditional presentations. HOPA hopes this will become a key resource for both patients and health professionals to provide patient centred-healthcare

November 14, 2006
’Old bones are not weak bones ’: Experts and patients meet at public forum

The 7th Hungarian Congress on Osteology was enriched by a public forum which brought patients and experts together under the auspices of HOPA.

The 7th Hungarian Congress on Osteology was held 24-27 May 24, 2006 in Balatonfüred. On the first day of the scientific meeting by experts dealing with different metabolic bone diseases,a 'Civil Forum' was organized by the Hungarian Osteoporosis Patient Association (HOPA). Some two hundreds patients from different parts of the country were invited to the interactive workshop entitled “Old bones are not weak bones”.
In the interactive workshop experts and patients exchanged their views and discussed how the elderly may keep their musculoskeletal health. The importance of keeping physical activity, regularly exercising, and few kilometres of daily walking was emphasized. One of the patients suggested interrupting the session by 5 minutes of exercising, which she lead.
The problems of healthy nutrition were also discussed. Remarkable data were presented about Vitamin D deficiency in the elderly. Vitamin D deficiency also weakens muscles and makes the elderly prone to falls. The methods of preventing falls were also emphasised.
Decreased quality of life is connected with multiple vertebral fractures. Back pain, other clinical symptoms of vertebral fractures including loss of spine mobility, loss of height, and diminished function causes difficulty in rising, dressing, and climbing stairs. Decrements in functional status, independence, social relationships, and emotional well being were discussed as common consequences of fractures contributing significantly to reduced quality of life.

Depression is also one of the more common and potentially most distressing psychological consequences of osteoporosis. Common complaints are sleep problems, reduced appetite, feeling blue, and/or hopeless, and isolation. The role of age related other diseases, like osteoarthritis, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular, endocrine, neurological diseases were also discussed in context with musculoskeletal health of the elderly.

In the afternoon different exercise programs, including tai-chi and Thera Band exercises, relaxation training were organised for the participants.

March 31, 2001
World Osteoporosis Day Calendar

On World Osteoporosis Day (WOD), the Hungarian Osteoporosis Patients Association published a calendar of children's drawings which had been produced
in a drawing competition held on WOD 1999.

October 21st, 2000
Beauty in all Forms:
Clothing Designed for Women with Osteoporosis

The Hungarian Osteoporosis Patient Association and the Fashion Department of Budapest Technical College (BTC) joined together in an innovative project to design a line of clothing for women whose body shape has changed because of osteoporosis. The designs were presented at a fashion show and award ceremony for the winners of the design competition which was held on October 21st, 2000 at the textile museum in Budapest.

The Hungarian Osteoporosis Patient Association and the Fashion Department of Budapest Technical College (BTC) joined together in an innovative project to design a line of clothing for women whose body shape has changed because of osteoporosis. The designs were presented at a fashion show and award ceremony for the winners of the design competition which was held on October 21st, 2000 at the textile museum in Budapest.

The Hungarian Osteoporosis Patient Association and the Fashion Department of Budapest Technical College (BTC) joined together in an innovative project to design a line of clothing for women whose body shape has changed because of osteoporosis. The designs were presented at a fashion show and award ceremony for the winners of the design competition which was held on October 21st, 2000 at the textile museum in Budapest.