Blood factors as biomarkers in osteoporosis: points from the COVID-19 era

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Hematology
• Clinical Diagnostics

Background:

• COVID-19 pandemic restrictions limited access to healthcare, disrupting chronic disease screening and monitoring, including for osteoporosis (OP).
• There is a need for accessible, efficient diagnostic tools to identify individuals at high risk for OP and its complications.
• Current screening methods may be time-consuming and require significant technical resources.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the potential of blood-related factors as novel biomarkers for osteoporosis screening.
• To evaluate platelet (PLT)- and monocyte-related factors for rapid detection and monitoring of OP in both sexes.
• To highlight the utility of these biomarkers for population risk stratification.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on blood-based biomarkers for osteoporosis.
• Analysis of the role of platelet (PLT) and monocyte parameters in OP pathogenesis and detection.
• Discussion of the clinical applicability and feasibility of using these factors as screening tools.

Main Results:

• Platelet (PLT)- and monocyte-related factors show promise as accessible biomarkers for osteoporosis.
• These blood markers can potentially facilitate rapid screening and monitoring of OP.
• The proposed biomarkers require minimal technical and time commitment for clinical use.

Conclusions:

• Blood-related factors, specifically those involving platelets and monocytes, represent a viable strategy for efficient osteoporosis screening.
• These biomarkers are crucial for identifying at-risk populations, particularly in situations with limited healthcare access.
• The development and implementation of these diagnostic tools can improve OP management during health crises and stable periods.