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Long-term bisphosphonate use linked with increased risk for fracture in older women vs short-term use
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Among older women with a high risk of fracture, 10 years to 13 years of oral bisphosphonate use was linked with an increased risk for fracture compared with 2 years of bisphosphonate, according to a recently published analysis of a retrospective cohort.
“Longer exposure was associated with site-specific fracture risk when bisphosphonate exposure was modeled as a continuous variable, but not when it was modeled as a categorical variable,” Rebecca L. Drieling, MPH, PhD, from the University of Washington, and colleagues wrote.
Between 2008 and 2009, researchers assessed 5,120 older women with an average age of 80 years and who reported at least 2 years of oral bisphosphonate use. The average follow-up was 3.7 years.
Investigators found 1,313 clinical fractures. They found 10 years to 13 years of bisphosphonate use was linked with an increased risk for clinical fracture compared with 2 years of use (ratio = 1.29). This association remained significant after limiting the findings to women with a prior fracture (ratio = 1.3) and women without a history of cancer (ratio = 1.36). However, this association was not significant for hip fractures.
“These findings add to concerns about the safety of long-term bisphosphonate use,” the researchers wrote. – by Will A. Offit
Disclosures: Drieling reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the full study for a list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.
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