#Japan #Osteoporosis #Asahi Kasei #Chiyoda #Care Managers

Promoting Osteoporosis Awareness through Care Managers

Asahi Kasei Pharma and Internet Infinity are embarking on a new initiative aimed at enhancing awareness of osteoporosis and fostering medical treatment among untreated patients in Japan. Starting from March 2025, this program will leverage the expertise of care managers across the nation to promote diagnoses and treatments for osteoporosis, addressing a significant gap in care for the aging population.

Addressing a Critical Need

The initiative is designed to tackle the alarming issue that many elderly individuals are either undiagnosed or not receiving proper treatment for osteoporosis, despite either having the condition or having previously halted treatment. The goal is to empower care managers, who regularly interact with these individuals and their families, to educate them about the disease and encourage proper medical consultations and treatment options.

Resources and Training Provided

To support this initiative, Asahi Kasei Pharma and Internet Infinity have developed a comprehensive training kit and informative leaflets that will be distributed to home nursing care support offices nationwide. Care managers will utilize these resources to provide necessary information on osteoporosis to their clients and to effectively communicate the importance of treatment and regular health check-ups.

Positive Participation Rates

Preliminary evaluations of the program's effectiveness have already begun. A survey conducted by Internet Infinity among care managers revealed that approximately 30% participated in the osteoporosis awareness initiative. Specifically, among the 366 survey respondents, 175 care managers reported distributing educational materials to their clients and their families. This translates to an estimated participation rate of 28%.

Impact on Healthcare Seeking Behavior

Further investigation into the initiative's impact on healthcare-seeking behavior indicates promising results. A dedicated survey focused on 331 care managers who distributed educational materials found that 1,242 individuals were identified as having a history of vertebral fractures but not receiving osteoporosis treatment. Notably, 51% of these individuals who received materials reported taking steps toward medical consultation, resulting in 225 people (35%) actually visiting healthcare facilities.

This outcome suggests a significant opportunity for previously overlooked untreated osteoporosis patients to receive timely medical care due to the educational prompts from care managers.

Implications for Future Health Initiatives

The findings indicate that awareness-raising activities conducted through care managers represent an effective strategy for encouraging early diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis. Both Asahi Kasei Pharma and Internet Infinity are committed to improving healthcare outcomes by fostering collaboration between medical and caregiving sectors, thereby contributing to the enhancement of health span for the elderly in Japan.

About Asahi Kasei Pharma

Asahi Kasei Pharma operates under the mission of addressing unmet medical needs with dedicated care and innovative science. As a member of the Asahi Kasei Group, it focuses on pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. The company aspires to create a society where individuals never have to give up their aspirations due to health issues, continuing to champion this initiative until its company name changes to Asahi Kasei Therapeutics in April 2026.

About Internet Infinity

Internet Infinity runs the popular "Care Management Online," a web platform for care managers with over 100,000 registered users, and operates the rehabilitation-focused day service "Record Book." Since launching its medical business in 2018, the company has been dedicated to solving challenges faced by pharmaceutical and medical device sectors while promoting extended health spans through their diverse range of healthcare services.