The setting of the treatment target of osteoporosis

Abstract

In most patients at increased risk of fracture, treatment needs to be continued long-term. This, together with concerns over possible adverse effects of long-term bisphosphonate therapy, particularly osteonecrosis of the jaw and atypical femoral fractures, has raised questions over the optimal duration of bisphosphonate treatment and whether, in some individuals, treatment should be discontinued for a period of time (the so-called "drug holiday" ) . Recently, some recommendations about drug holiday have been published. On the other hand, Cummings and colleagues suggested that osteoporosis management should also embrace an additional strategy, that of goal-directed therapy. And, Lewiecki and colleague suggested that a treat-to-target strategy for osteoporosis offers the potential of improving osteoporosis care by reducing the burden of osteoporotic fractures and limiting adverse effects of therapy. They formed a task force to explore the feasibility of establishing osteoporosis treatment goals or targets.