This was first time when the epidemiology and burden of osteoporosis and fractures in the Eastern European and Central Asian region were studied. Aim: to study the incidence, prevalence and socio-economic burden of osteoporosis and fractures in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Methods: the analysis of published data on prevalence, risk factors and consequences of osteoporosis in 21 countries, including Russia, was performed. Results: In countries where epidemiological data is available, fracture rates are high, and vary depending on the age of the population. Osteoporosis and fractures are and will continue to be a major public health burden, escalating as the proportion of people over 50 years of age increases. In the majority of the countries under Audit there is lack of modern standards of care given for patients with osteoporosis: large proportion of hip fractures patients are not hospitalized and not surgically treated, diagnostic facilities and reimbursement policies for antiosteoporotic drugs are poor. The average daily calcium intake in nearly all countries outlined in the report falls far below the FAO/WHO recommendations. In addition the majority of populations in the region suffer from severe vitamin D insufficiency. These findings should serve to focus the attention of governments and health authorities on the devastating and growing problems posed by osteoporotic fractures in the region.

The aim of our study is researching influence of vitamin D and osteocalcin polymorphic gene markers in people, who lived in Blockaded Leningrad in 1941-1944 and detecting “critical age” of peak bone mass formation in these people. We included in our study 48 peoples, 13 males and 35 females. Osteodensitometry of lumbar spine (L1-L4) and proximal hip was used by dualenergy X-ray absorptiometer GE Lunar Prodigy Vision 6. Molecular diagnostic researching are: detecting ApaI, TagI vitamin D receptor (VDR) and HindIII osteocalcin gene polymorphism by polymerase chain reaction with restriction assay. Women with osteopenia of hip neck had significantly higher age in the onset of Blockade, than women without osteopenia. Genotype ТТ and allele Т of TagI, aa genotype of ApaI VDR, genotype hh and allele h of HindIII osteocalcin gene polymorphism will be able as markers of genetic predisposing to osteoporosis in people, who lived in Blockaded Leningrad.

Objective: To define the specific features of bone metabolism and to estimate bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) Subjects and methods: Seventy-two patients (66 males and 6 females) with SA were examined. Markers of bone metabolism markers were assessed, by measuring the serum levels of osteocalcin (OC) and C-terminal telopeptides (bCrosslaps) by enzyme-linked immunoassay. Bone mineral density (BMD) was studied by distal forearm by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) on a DexaScan DX-10 apparatus. BMD was estimated in women and men older 50 years by the T-test and in men under 50 years by the Z-test. Results: Low BMD was found by DEXA in 55% patients with SA., 7% patients had a vertebral fracture. The level of bCrosslaps was 0.52±0.37 ng/ml (p>0.05) and that of osteocalcin was 12,9±7,1 ng/ml (p<0.05), which is accordingly higher and lower than the reference values. With higher SA activity and advance of X-ray disease stage, there was a tendency for bCrosslaps to increase and osteocalcin to decrease. Correlation analysis revealed a correlation between the value of BMD and the SA activity, between the levels of OC and X-ray disease stage and functional index BASDAI., between the levels of bCrosslaps and degree of activity AS. Age and low physical activity also affected the parameters of BMD in patients with SA.