title: The Global Longitudinal Study of Osteoporosis in Women (GLOW): rationale and study design.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  The Global Longitudinal study of Osteoporosis in Women (GLOW) is a prospective cohort study involving 723 physicians and 60,393 women subjects >or=55 years. The data will provide insights into the management of fracture risk in older women over 5 years, patient experience with prevention and treatment, and distribution of risk among older women on an international basis.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Data from cohort studies describing the distribution of osteoporosis-related fractures and risk factors are not directly comparable and do not compare regional differences in patterns of patient management and fracture outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The GLOW is a prospective, multinational, observational cohort study. Practices typical of each region were identified through primary care networks organized for administrative, research, or educational purposes. Noninstitutionalized patients visiting each practice within the previous 2 years were eligible. Self-administered questionnaires were mailed, with 2:1 oversampling of women >or=65 years. Follow-up questionnaires will be sent at 12-month intervals for 5 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 723 physicians at 17 sites in ten countries agreed to participate. Baseline surveys were mailed (October 2006 to February 2008) to 140,416 subjects. After the exclusion of 3,265 women who were ineligible or had died, 60,393 agreed to participate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GLOW will provide contemporary information on patterns of management of fracture risk in older women over a 5-year period. The collection of data in a similar manner in ten countries will permit comparisons of patient experience with prevention and treatment and provide insights into the distribution of risk among older women on an international basis.
authors.affiliation: Center for Outcomes Research, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA. fred.hooven@umassmed.edu
authors.forename: F H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Hooven
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Adachi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Adami
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boonen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Compston
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Delmas
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Diez-Perez
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gehlbach
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Greenspan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: LaCroix
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lindsay
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Netelenbos
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pfeilschifter
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roux
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Saag
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sambrook
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Silverman
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Siris
authors.forename: N B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Watts
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D009656:North America; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D018579:Patient Selection; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires