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

Abstract

The restrictions adopted during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic limiting direct medical consultations and access to healthcare centers reduced the participation of patients with chronic diseases, such as osteoporosis (OP), in screening and monitoring programs. This highlighted the need for new screening diagnostic tools that are clinically effective, but require minimal technical and time commitments, to stratify populations and identify who is more at risk for OP and related complications. This paper provides an overview of the potential use of blood-related factors, such as platelet (PLT)- and monocyte-related factors, as biomarkers able to quickly screen, detect, and monitor OP in both sexes. Such biomarkers might be of key importance not only during the COVID-19 pandemic but also, even more importantly, during periods of better global health stability.

Keywords: COVID-19; monocyte; osteoporosis; platelets; spontaneous osteoclastogenesis.