Reply to letter by M. Casey and B. Walsh: Chronic renal failure in hip fracture patients

Abstract

Sir, We welcome the Letter to the Editor in which M. Casey and B. Walsh recommend that renal function in elderly patients with osteoporosis and osteopenia be clarified prior to treatment with drugs impacted by renal status. The high prevalence of severe renal compromise reported by the writers in 100 patients ages 84±8.8 years undergoing operation for hip fracture is in good agreement with the high prevalence we found in women ages ‡80 years with osteoporosis in the NHANES III. Because osteoporosis treatments, such as bisphosphonates and various forms of vitamin D, as well as treatments for other conditions, may be impacted by renal dysfunction in the frail elderly, physicians can benefit these patients by an assessment of renal status in conjunction with treatment. Osteoporos Int (2004) 15: 421 DOI 10.1007/s00198-004-1586-5