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Anti-osteoporosis therapy may reduce risk of subsequent fragility fracture
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Anti-osteoporotic therapy can reduce the risk of subsequent fragility-related osteoporosis fractures following an initial fracture by up to 40%, according to recently published data.
“Fragility fractures have a major impact on patients’ pain, function, and quality of life. They also account for a tremendous health care cost,” study author Harpreet S. Bawa, MD, stated in a press release.
“This study shows that initiation of anti-osteoporotic therapy following a fragility fracture can reduce subsequent fracture risk by 40% over 3 years and can prevent a subsequent fracture in one out of every 27 patients treated,” Bawa stated.
Bawa and colleagues evaluated 31,069 patients 50 years of age or older who had sustained an osteoporosis fragility-related wrist, proximal humeral, hip, or vertebral fracture in a 3-year period. About 3,200 patients were given anti-osteoporosis therapy and the remaining patients were not. A minimum compliance rate with treatment of 80% over 6 months was required for inclusion in the study. The unadjusted odds ratios for subsequent fracture were determined, as well as odds ratios (ORs) adjusted for age and gender.
There was a 7.5% rate of subsequent fracture in the therapy cohort and a 9.7% rate of subsequent fracture in the non-therapy cohort. Unadjusted ORs indicated the risk of subsequent fracture in the treatment cohort was reduced 48% after proximal humeral fracture, 33% after wrist fracture, 28% after hip fracture and 20% after vertebral fracture. The overall reduction in the subsequent fracture risk for all fracture types combined was 25%.
When the ORs adjusted for age and gender were calculated, this reduction in subsequent fracture risk became 52% after proximal humeral fracture, 43% after vertebral fracture, 34% after hip fracture and 40% in all fracture types combined.
“The study highlights the public health benefits for improved prevention of secondary fragility fractures,” Bawa stated in the release. “This knowledge can help patients make an informed decision about their treatment options after a first-time fragility fracture.” – by Christian Ingram
Disclosure: Bawa reports no relevant financial disclosures.
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