Lower Vertebral Fracture Risk Research Articles

Statin use associated with a reduced risk of hip fracture in patients with gout

Studies show that statins users are at reduced risk of fracture and improved bone mineral density. However, the clinical effectiveness of statin use in patients with gout has not been investigated. This retrospective cohort study used data from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, consisting of 3443 patients with gout using statins aged 50 years and above and 6886 gout patients of non-statin users matched by sex, age and propensity score. The Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed that statin use was associated with a reduced risk of hip fracture (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 0.78, 95 % confidence interval [CI] = 0.64–0.94) after controlling for potential confounding factors. The association was significant in both genders aged 50–64 years, with aHRs of near 0.35, but not in the elderly. In addition, women aged 50–64 years who used statins also exhibited a lower risk of vertebral fracture (aHR = 0.70, 95 % CI = 0.50–0.99), but not men. In conclusion, the stating use in gout patients could reduce fracture risk for younger patients. Further research is warranted to confirm these findings.

Efficacy and Safety of Anti-Osteoporotic Agents across CKD Stages: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.

Osteoporosis poses a significant health concern, especially for individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD). CKD disrupts mineral and bone metabolism, heightening the risk of fractures and complicating the management of osteoporosis. While anti-osteoporotic interventions aim to address bone health in CKD patients, ongoing research is essential to understand the comparative efficacy and safety of these medications, particularly in different CKD stages, notably in stages 4 and 5. We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane CENTRAL for randomized controlled trials assessing the efficacy and safety of osteoporosis interventions in CKD up to June 15, 2024. The analysis utilized the pooled odds ratio (OR) along with the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI), employing Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software, version 3.0. To assess heterogeneity in the results of individual studies, we used Cochran's Q statistic and the I2 statistic. We analyzed 12 randomized controlled trials involving 31,027 participants, revealing a significantly lower risk of vertebral fractures with anti-osteoporotic agents (teriparatide, denosumab, romosozumab, raloxifene) compared to placebo (pooled OR, 0.28 [95% CI, 0.22-0.36]). Stratification by CKD stages showed a lower risk in Stages 1-3 but no significant reduction in stages 4 and 5. Teriparatide, denosumab, and romosozumab were effective in lowering fracture risk, whereas Raloxifene showed no significant effect. The lumbar spine, femoral neck, and total hip BMD showed no significant differences between anti-osteoporotic agents (denosumab, raloxifene, risedronate, alendronate, teriparatide) and placebo. However, romosozumab demonstrated a significantly greater BMD change in all kidney function categories. No reported side effects were observed in CKD stages 1-5 across the trials. Our meta-analysis highlights the effectiveness of anti-osteoporotic agents in lowering vertebral fracture risk in CKD patients, particularly in stages 1-3. However, this benefit is not apparent in stages 4 and 5, necessitating further research. Despite the absence of reported side effects in CKD patients, clinicians should carefully assess the suitability of these medications, considering individual risks and benefits.

Adherence of bisphosphonate and decreased risk of clinical vertebral fracture in osteoporotic patients: A propensity score matching analysis

ObjectivesBisphosphonate is associated with a decreased risk of vertebral fractures due to osteoporosis. However, there are limited studies on how poor compliance with bisphosphonate affects the risk of vertebral fractures in a nationwide cohort. We aim to evaluate whether adherence to bisphosphonate affects the risk of fracture in osteoporosis patients. MethodsWe used the data of the Korean National Health Insurance Service Senior Cohort. A total of 33,315 (medication possession ratio [MPR]: 50) osteoporosis patients were matched using the propensity score matching method: those who received low-dose bisphosphonate and those who received high-dose bisphosphonate. Twenty-two confounding variables, including age, socioeconomic status, medications prescribed, and underlying diseases that may affect the risk of fracture were adjusted for propensity score matching. The risk of vertebral fracture was assessed by Cox proportional hazards regression. ResultsPatients with a higher MPR showed a decreased vertebral fracture risk than those with a lower MPR (MPR 50 = hazard ratio [HR] 0.909; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.877–0.942 P < 0.001; MPR 70 = HR: 0.874, 95% CI: 0.838–0.913, P < 0.001; MPR 90 = HR: 0.822, 95% CI: 0.780–0.866, P < 0.001). MPR was associated with a decreased vertebral fracture risk in both groups with or without history of fracture. In the subgroup analysis, MPR was associated with a decreased vertebral fracture risk in women, in all ages, with or without T2DM, and with or without hypertension. ConclusionsHigher MPR is associated with a lower vertebral fracture risk.

Effect of Dietary Protein Intake on Bone Mineral Density and Fracture Incidence in Older Adults in the Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study.

Dietary recommendations may underestimate the protein older adults need for optimal bone health. This study sought to determine associations of protein intake with bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture among community-dwelling White and Black older adults. Protein as a percentage of total energy intake (TEI) was assessed with a Food Frequency Questionnaire in 2160 older adults (73.5 ± 2.8 years; 51.5% women; 35.8% Black) in the Health, Aging, and Body Composition prospective cohort. Hip, femoral neck, and whole body BMD was assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry at baseline and 4 years, and lumbar trabecular, cortical, and integral BMD was assessed by computed tomography at baseline and 5 years. Fragility fractures over 5 years were adjudicated from self-report data collected every 6 months. Associations with tertiles of protein intake were assessed using analysis of covariance for BMD and multivariate Cox regression for fracture, adjusting for confounders. Participants in the upper protein tertile (≥15% TEI) had 1.8%-6.0% higher mean hip and lumbar spine BMD compared to the lower protein tertile (<13% TEI; p < .05). Protein intake did not affect change in BMD at any site over the follow-up period. Participants in the upper protein tertile had a reduced risk of clinical vertebral fracture over 5 years of follow-up (hazard ratio: 0.36 [95% confidence interval: 0.14, 0.97] vs lower protein tertile, p = .04). Older adults with higher protein intake (≥15% TEI) had higher BMD at the hip, whole body, and lumbar spine, and a lower risk of vertebral fracture.

The association between overweight/obesity and vertebral fractures in older adults: a meta-analysis of observational studies.

Recent investigations suggest that the influence of overweight/obesity on fracture risks is site-specific, while conflicting data were reported related to vertebral fracture. This meta-analysis was performed to qualitatively assess the relationship between overweight/obesity and the risk of vertebral fracture. MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane were searched for relevant observational articles assessing the vertebral fracture risk of the overweight or obese population compared to normal population. Two independent reviewers conducted data extraction and quality assessment. Relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were pooled using a random effect model. Eleven studies including 1,078,094 participants were extracted from 1645 records. Pooled RR showed that decreased risk of vertebral fractures was observed in the overweight older adults (RR: 1.16; 95% CI: 1.07-1.26; I2: 51.8%), but not in the obese populations (RR: 0.98; 95% CI: 0.82-1.17; I2: 92.1%). In the subgroup analysis, we found a significant inverse association between overweight and risk of vertebral fracture in women (RR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.85-1.00; I2: 0.0%), non-Asian areas (RR: 0.89; 95% CI: 0.80-0.99; I2: 40.7%), sample size > 2000 (RR: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.80-0.94; I2: 4.9%), and quality score > 7 (RR: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.79-0.95; I2: 21.9%). Furthermore, pooled studies of sample size > 2000 (RR: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.76, 0.89; I2: 52.1%) and quality score > 7 (RR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.62, 0.91; I2: 68.1%) showed that the people with obesity had a significantly lower prevalence of vertebral fracture. Overweight aged adults tend to have a lower vertebral fracture risk. When gender and ethnicity were taken into consideration, the inverse relationship between overweight and vertebral fracture risk were only observed in female and non-Asian populations. Besides, there is insufficient data to conclude the relationship between obesity and the risk of vertebral fractures, and thus, further studies are needed.

The Interaction of Acute-Phase Reaction and Efficacy for Osteoporosis After Zoledronic Acid: HORIZON Pivotal Fracture Trial.

Zoledronic acid (ZOL) as a yearly infusion is effective in reducing fracture risk. An acute-phase reaction (APR), consisting of flu-like symptoms within 3 days after infusion, is commonly seen. The objective of this analysis was to investigate whether APR occurrence influences drug efficacy. This analysis uses data from the 3-year randomized clinical trial, Health Outcomes and Reduced Incidence with Zoledronic Acid Once Yearly-Pivotal Fracture Trial (HORIZON-PFT). APRs were identified as adverse events within 3 days of first infusion with higher frequency in ZOL than placebo. To compare mean 3-year change in bone mineral density (BMD) in ZOL versus placebo, among women with and without APR, t tests were used. Logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between APR occurrence and odds of incident morphometric vertebral fracture. Cox regression was used to determine the risk of nonvertebral and hip fractures for women with versus without APR. Logistic and Cox models were used to determine the risk of incident fracture in ZOL versus placebo for women with and without an APR. The analysis included 3862 women in the ZOL group and 3852 in placebo, with 42.4% in ZOL versus 11.8% in placebo experiencing an APR. The difference in BMD mean change for ZOL versus placebo was similar for women with and without an APR (all p interaction >0.10). Among ZOL women, those with APR had 51% lower vertebral fracture risk than those without (odds ratio [OR]=0.49, p< 0.001). A similar but nonsignificant trend was observed for nonvertebral and hip fracture (relative hazard [RH]=0.82, p =0.10; RH=0.70, p =0.22, respectively). There was a greater treatment-related reduction in vertebral fracture risk among women with APR (OR=0.19) than those without (OR=0.38) (p interaction=0.01). Our results suggest that women starting ZOL who experience an APR will have a larger reduction in vertebral fracture risk with ZOL. © 2021 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).

Elderly men have much lower vertebral fracture risk than elderly women even at advanced age: the MrOS and MsOS (Hong Kong) year 14 follow-up radiology results.

For MrOS MsOS (Hong Kong) baseline (BL) studies, 2000 men and 2000 women ≥ 65 years were recruited during 2001 to 2003. This study presents the year 14 follow-up (FU). Whole spine MRI was performed in 271 males (mean, 82.8 ± 3.6 years) and 150 females (mean, 82.0 ± 4.29 years). Osteoporotic vertebral deformity (OVD) classification included no OVD (grade 0), and OVDs with < 20%, 20~25%, > 25%~1/3, > 1/3~40%, > 40%~2/3, and > 2/3 height loss (grade 1~6). With an existing VD, a further height loss of ≥ 15% was a VD progression. A new incident VD was a change from grade 0 to ≥ grade 2 or to grade 1 with ≥ 10% height loss. OVD progression and new incident OVD were considered incident VF. The proportion of osteoporotic subjects only slightly increased during FU for men but doubled for women. Groupwise, OVD was not associated with back pain in men; but OVD with > 1/3 height loss was associated with back pain in women. For subjects without BL OVD, 7.9% of men and 14.6% of women had incident VF. For subjects with BL OVD of ≥ 20% height loss, men's and women's incident VF were 17.6% and 52.6%, respectively, counting subject and 1.68% and 7.89%, respectively, counting vertebra. Elderly men with or without existing osteoporotic VD have much lower future VF risk than elderly women.

BMI, Waist Circumference, and Risk of Incident Vertebral Fracture in Women.

The study aimed to investigate the association between BMI, waist circumference, and vertebral fracture (VF) risk in women. This prospective study was conducted in 54,934 Nurses' Health Study participants. BMI was assessed biennially, and waist circumference was assessed in the year 2000. Self-reports of VF were confirmed by record review. BMI reflects lean body mass, and waist circumference reflects abdominal adiposity when included in the same regression model. This study included 536 VF cases (2002 to 2014). Compared with women with BMI of 21.0 to 24.9 kg/m2 , the multivariable-adjusted relative risk (RR) of VF for women with BMI ≥ 32.0 was 0.84 (95% CI: 0.61-1.14; Ptrend = 0.08). After further adjustment for waist circumference, the multivariable-adjusted RR of VF for women with BMI ≥ 32.0 was 0.70 (95% CI: 0.49-0.98; Ptrend = 0.003). Compared with women with waist circumference < 71.0 cm, the multivariable-adjusted RR of VF for women with waist circumference ≥ 108.0 cm was 1.76 (95% CI: 1.06-2.92; Ptrend = 0.01), and after further adjustment for BMI, the multivariable-adjusted RR of VF was 2.49 (95% CI: 1.44-4.33; Ptrend < 0.001). Greater lean body mass was independently associated with lower VF risk. Larger waist circumference was independently associated with higher VF risk. These findings suggest that fat distribution is an important predictor of VF and that avoiding central adiposity, as well as maintaining muscle mass, may potentially confer reduced risk of VF in older women.

Head-to-head comparisons of bisphosphonates and teriparatide in osteoporosis: a meta-analysis.

This meta-analysis aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of teriparatide vs. bisphosphonates in the management of osteoporosis. A total of 1,967 patients from eight randomized controlled trials were analyzed; outcomes included bone mineral density (BMD) of the femoral neck, total hip and lumbar spine, vertebral and nonvertebral fractures and any adverse event. A subgroup analysis of treatment effectiveness was performed according to the etiology of osteoporosis; i.e., glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIO) vs. post-menopausal osteoporosis (PO). Teriparatide increased the BMD of the lumbar spine, femoral neck and total hip to a greater extent than bisphosphonates. Patients treated with teriparatide also had a lower risk of vertebral fractures compared with bisphosphonates; however, no difference in risk of nonvertebral fractures (or adverse events) was found. GIO subgroups showed larger increases in BMD of the lumbar spine, total hip and femoral neck in patients treated with teriparatide compared with bisphosphonates. The PO subgroup showed larger increases in BMD of the lumbar spine in patients treated with teriparatide compared with bisphosphonates. Patients in the GIO subgroup (but not the PO subgroup) were less likely to suffer a vertebral fracture on teriparatide as compared with bisphosphonates. In contrast, no significant difference in the percentage of nonvertebral fractures was noted between the two types of treatment for either subgroup. Teriparatide significantly increased the BMD of lumbar spine, total hip and femoral neck, particularly in GIO-induced osteoporosis. Teriparatide did not lower the risk of nonvertebral fractures when compared with bisphosphonates.

Vertebral fracture in postmenopausal Chinese women: a population-based study.

We aimed to describe the prevalence and develop a model for prediction of radiographic vertebral fractures in a large random sample of postmenopausal Chinese women. We enrolled 1760 women from an age-stratified random sample of postmenopausal women in Beijing, China. The presence of vertebral fracture was assessed by semi-quantitative grading of lateral thoracolumbar radiographs, risk factors by interview, bone mineral density (BMD) of the proximal femur and lumbar spine by dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and markers of bone turnover from a fasting blood sample. Associations of these factors were analyzed in logistic models and discrimination by areas of receiver operating characteristics curves (AUC). The prevalence of vertebral fracture, ranged from 13.4% ages 50 to 59years old to 58.1% at age 80years or older. Older age, a history of non-vertebral fracture, lower femoral neck BMD T-score, body mass index (BMI), height loss, housework, and less than half an hour of outdoor activity were significantly associated with increased probability of having a vertebral fracture. A model with those seven factors had a similar AUC with or without BMD and performed better than a simple model with three factors. This study is from a true random sample of postmenopausal women in urban China with high response rate. The prevalence of vertebral fractures in postmenopausal women in Beijing increases from 13% under age 60 to over 50% by age 80years. A model with seven clinical risk factors with or without BMD is better than simple models and may guide the use of spine x-rays to identify women with vertebral fractures. More than half an hour of outdoor activity might correlate with lower risk of vertebral fracture in this population.

Osteoporosis Treatment Efficacy for Men: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

To evaluate the efficacy of treatment options to reduce osteoporotic fracture risk in men. Systematic review and meta-analysis. Randomized clinical trials that evaluated the efficacy of a treatment for osteoporosis or low bone mineral density for adult men and reported fracture outcomes. Men. PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library databases were searched for relevant studies. Information was extracted from included studies on participant sociodemographic characteristics, number of male participants, treatment evaluated, comparator for evaluated treatment, study duration, and fracture outcomes. Risk of bias of individual studies was assessed using measures recommended by the Cochrane Collaboration. Twenty-four articles reporting results for 22 studies (including 4,868 male participants) met strict inclusion criteria. Fixed-effects meta-analyses using the Mantel-Haenszel method demonstrated significantly lower risk of vertebral fractures with alendronate (relative risk (RR) = 0.328, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.155-0.692) and risedronate (RR = 0.428, 95% CI = 0.245-0.746) but not with calcitonin (RR = 0.272, 95% CI = 0.046-1.608) or denosumab (RR = 0.256, 95% CI = 0.029-2.238) than in controls. For bisphosphonates as a treatment category, meta-analyses demonstrated significantly lower risk of vertebral fractures (RR = 0.368, 95% CI = 0.252-0.537) and nonvertebral fractures (RR = 0.604, 95% CI = 0.404-0.904) than in controls. The meta-analysis finding that bisphosphonates significantly reduce nonvertebral fracture risk was not robust to sensitivity analysis. Bisphosphonates reduce the risk of vertebral and possibly nonvertebral fractures for men with osteoporosis. Further studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of bisphosphonates for reducing nonvertebral fracture risk and the efficacy of nonbisphosphonates for reducing vertebral and nonvertebral fracture risk in men with osteoporosis.

Romosozumab Treatment in Postmenopausal Women with Osteoporosis

BackgroundRomosozumab, a monoclonal antibody that binds sclerostin, increases bone formation and decreases bone resorption.MethodsWe enrolled 7180 postmenopausal women who had a T score of –2.5 to –3.5 at the total hip or femoral neck. Patients were randomly assigned to receive subcutaneous injections of romosozumab (at a dose of 210 mg) or placebo monthly for 12 months; thereafter, patients in each group received denosumab for 12 months, at a dose of 60 mg, administered subcutaneously every 6 months. The coprimary end points were the cumulative incidences of new vertebral fractures at 12 months and 24 months. Secondary end points included clinical (a composite of nonvertebral and symptomatic vertebral) and nonvertebral fractures.ResultsAt 12 months, new vertebral fractures had occurred in 16 of 3321 patients (0.5%) in the romosozumab group, as compared with 59 of 3322 (1.8%) in the placebo group (representing a 73% lower risk with romosozumab; P<0.001). Clinical fractures had occurred in 58 of 3589 patients (1.6%) in the romosozumab group, as compared with 90 of 3591 (2.5%) in the placebo group (a 36% lower risk with romosozumab; P=0.008). Nonvertebral fractures had occurred in 56 of 3589 patients (1.6%) in the romosozumab group and in 75 of 3591 (2.1%) in the placebo group (P=0.10). At 24 months, the rates of vertebral fractures were significantly lower in the romosozumab group than in the placebo group after each group made the transition to denosumab (0.6% [21 of 3325 patients] in the romosozumab group vs. 2.5% [84 of 3327] in the placebo group, a 75% lower risk with romosozumab; P<0.001). Adverse events, including instances of hyperostosis, cardiovascular events, osteoarthritis, and cancer, appeared to be balanced between the groups. One atypical femoral fracture and two cases of osteonecrosis of the jaw were observed in the romosozumab group.ConclusionsIn postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, romosozumab was associated with a lower risk of vertebral fracture than placebo at 12 months and, after the transition to denosumab, at 24 months. The lower risk of clinical fracture that was seen with romosozumab was evident at 1 year. (Funded by Amgen and UCB Pharma; FRAME ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01575834.)

Inflammatory Markers and the Risk of Hip and Vertebral Fractures in Men: the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS).

Cytokines play major roles in regulating bone remodeling, but their relationship to incident fractures in older men is uncertain. We tested the hypothesis that men with higher concentrations of pro-inflammatory markers have a higher risk of fracture. We used a case-cohort design and measured inflammatory markers in a random sample of 961 men and in men with incident fractures including 120 clinical vertebral, 117 hip, and 577 non-spine fractures; average follow-up 6.13 years (7.88 years for vertebral fractures). We measured interleukin (IL)-6, C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), soluble receptors (SR) of IL-6 (IL-6SR) and TNF (TNFαSR1 and TNFαSR2), and IL-10. The risk of non-spine, hip, and clinical vertebral fracture was compared across quartiles (Q) of inflammatory markers using Cox proportional hazard models with tests for linear trend. In multivariable-adjusted models, men with the highest (Q4) TNFa cytokine concentrations and their receptors had a 2.0-4.2-fold higher risk of hip and clinical vertebral fracture than men with the lowest (Q1). Results were similar for all non-spine fractures, but associations were smaller. There was no association between CRP and IL-6SR and fracture. Men in the highest Q of IL-10 had a 49% lower risk of vertebral fracture compared with men in Q1. Among men with ≥3 inflammatory markers in the highest Q, the hazard ratio (HR) for hip fractures was 2.03 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11-3.71) and for vertebral fracture 3.06 (1.66-5.63). The HRs for hip fracture were attenuated by 27%, 27%, and 15%, respectively, after adjusting for appendicular lean mass (ALM), disability, and bone density, suggesting mediating roles. ALM also attenuated the HR for vertebral fractures by 10%. There was no association between inflammation and rate of hip BMD loss. We conclude that inflammation may play an important role in the etiology of fractures in older men. © 2016 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

The association between genetic variants of RUNX2, ADIPOQ and vertebral fracture in Korean postmenopausal women

Contrary to the traditional belief that obesity acts as a protective factor for bone, recent epidemiologic studies have shown that body fat might be a risk factor for osteoporosis and bone fracture. Accordingly, we evaluated the association between the phenotypes of osteoporosis or vertebral fracture and variants of obesity-related genes, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARG), runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), leptin receptor (LEPR), and adiponectin (ADIPOQ). In total, 907 postmenopausal healthy women, aged 60-79 years, were included in this study. BMD and biomarkers of bone health and adiposity were measured. We genotyped for four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from four genes (PPARG, RUNX2, LEPR, ADIPOQ). A general linear model for continuous dependent variables and a logistic regression model for categorical dependent variables were used to analyze the statistical differences among genotype groups. Compared with the TT subjects at rs7771980 in RUNX2, C-carrier (TC + CC) subjects had a lower vertebral fracture risk after adjusting for age, smoking, alcohol, total calorie intake, total energy expenditure, total calcium intake, total fat intake, weight, body fat. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% interval (CI) for the vertebral fracture risk was 0.55 (95% CI 0.32-0.94). After adjusting for multiple variables, the prevalence of vertebral fracture was highest in GG subjects at rs1501299 in ADIPOQ (p = 0.0473). A high calcium intake (>1000 mg/day) contributed to a high bone mineral density (BMD) in GT + TT subjects at rs1501299 in ADIPOQ (p for interaction = 0.0295). Even if the mechanisms between obesity-related genes and bone health are not fully established, the results of our study revealed the association of certain SNPs from obesity-related genes with BMD or vertebral fracture risk in postmenopausal Korean women.

The effect of zoledronic acid on the fracture risk in men with osteoporosis

Prospective, placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized studies on osteoporosis treatment with bisphosphonates in men are rare. This review focuses on a recent trial and compares the results with other studies. This review provides a summary of recent literature on fracture risk in men following treatment with zoledronic acid. According to a recent clinical study with 1,199 men, zoledronic acid was linked to a lower risk of vertebral fractures. In this manuscript, a re-analysis of the presented statistical data will be demonstrated by performing a Bonferroni-correction to adjust for type 1 error accumulation in multiple statistical tests. It will be shown that the provided evidence linking zoledronic acid to a lower fracture risk in male osteoporosis is true, but less pronounced than originally assumed. Comparative clinical studies are recommended, where the benefits of different bisphosphonates are compared to each other under the same experimental conditions.

Age-related bone mineral density, osteoporosis rate and risk of vertebral fracture in mainland Chinese women with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Few data are available regarding bone mineral density (BMD) and the risk of vertebral fracture among mainland Chinese women with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A decrease in the bone projective area (BPA) can be an indirect marker reflecting compressed vertebral fracture. We investigated age-related BMD, BPA, and the prevalence of osteoporosis in women with T2DM in mainland China. BMD and BPA of the posteroanterior lumbar spine (L1-L4) and hip were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in 1253 women with T2DM and 1194 control subjects without diabetes aged 40-80 yr. BMD of the lumbar spine and hip decreased with age. BMD of the lumbar spine was higher in T2DM than controls (p<0.05-0.001), as was BPA at some vertebral bodies (p<0.05-0.001), whereas no significant intergroup differences in BPA were observed at the hip. The prevalence of osteoporosis in the women with T2DM increased with age: 0-2.58% at age 40-49 yr, 6.94-28.4% at age 50-59 yr, 32.7-76.7% at age 70-80 yr, with the range reflecting differences between skeletal sites. In subjects over 60 yr, the rates of osteoporosis at posteroanterior spine were significantly lower in T2DM patients than in controls (p<0.05-0.001). In conclusion, women with T2DM had higher BMD and lower risk of osteoporosis. Higher BPA of the vertebrae indicated that women with T2DM in mainland China would have a lower risk of vertebral fracture than non-diabetic women.

Risk of fracture in women treated with monthly oral ibandronate or weekly bisphosphonates: The eValuation of IBandronate Efficacy (VIBE) database fracture study

The eValuation of IBandronate Efficacy (VIBE) head-to-head database fracture study compared fracture rates between patients treated with monthly ibandronate and weekly oral bisphosphonates (BPs).This large study included women ≥45 years old, newly prescribed monthly oral ibandronate or weekly oral alendronate or risedronate, and without malignancy or Paget's disease of bone. The primary analysis included patients who were adherent to treatment during the first 90 days after the index date. The risks of hip, nonvertebral, vertebral and any clinical fracture were compared using Cox proportional hazards models and adjusted for potential confounding factors. A secondary, “intent-to-treat” analysis included all patients who received at least one BP prescription. Sensitivity analyses based on the primary analysis compared patients receiving ibandronate with patients receiving weekly alendronate or risedronate separately, and explored the effect of excluding patients with potential confounding factors from the analysis. Further sensitivity analyses varied the requirement for adherence during the first 90 days after the index date.The primary analysis population included 7345 monthly ibandronate and 56,837 weekly BP patients. Fracture rates after the 12-month observational period were <2% and fracture risk was not significantly different between patients receiving monthly ibandronate or weekly BPs for hip, nonvertebral or any clinical fracture (adjusted relative risk: hip=1.06, p=0.84; nonvertebral=0.88, p=0.255; any clinical fracture=0.82, p=0.052). Ibandronate patients had a significantly lower risk of vertebral fracture than weekly BP patients (adjusted relative risk 0.36, 95% confidence interval 0.18–0.75, p=0.006). In the secondary, “intent-to-treat” analysis, relative risks of fracture were not significantly different between treatment groups for any fracture type. The results of the sensitivity analyses were generally consistent with the primary analysis.This retrospective cohort study found that patients treated with oral monthly ibandronate or weekly BPs (alendronate and risedronate) had similar, low risks of hip fracture, nonvertebral fracture and any clinical fracture. Ibandronate patients had a significantly lower relative risk of vertebral fracture than weekly BP patients; the clinical implications of these findings require further exploration and validation.

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors and the risk of vertebral fracture.

Statins inhibit an enzyme in the mevalonate pathway and therefore may affect bone. In this first study on both symptomatic and nonsymptomatic vertebral fractures in the elderly (N = 3469), we show that long-term statin use is significantly associated with a 50% lower vertebral fracture risk. Randomized trials on statins and fractures, carried out in populations at risk for fractures, are needed. Statins are cholesterol-lowering agents that could potentially affect bone. Previous studies on statin use and fracture risk reported contradictory results and did not include both symptomatic and nonsymptomatic vertebral fractures. To examine the association between statin use, vertebral fractures, and lumbar spine BMD, we performed a prospective population-based cohort study in men and women (N = 3469) > or =55 years of age. These individuals had both baseline and follow-up spinal X-rays available. Statin use was obtained from detailed computerized pharmacy data, and the total number of days of exposure before second X-ray was calculated. A multivariate logistic regression model was fitted to calculate odds ratios and CIs. During a mean follow-up of 6.5 years, 176 incident vertebral fractures occurred. There were 508 statin users and 16 exposed cases. The adjusted relative risk for incident vertebral fracture in users of statins (compared with nonusers) was 0.58 (95% CI, 0.34-0.99). The relative risk decreased on higher cumulative use to 0.52 (95% CI, 0.28-0.97) for use for more than 365 days during the study period. Use of (the hydrophilic statin) pravastatin and use of nonstatin cholesterol-lowering drugs was not significantly associated with vertebral fracture risk. Statin use was not significantly associated with lumbar spine BMD. Statin use is associated with a lower risk of vertebral fracture. Randomized clinical trials in a population at risk for fracture are needed to examine this association.

Vertebral fractures in Beijing, China: the Beijing Osteoporosis Project.

Women in China have much lower risk of hip fracture than women in Europe or North America but their risk of vertebral fractures is not known. Lateral spine radiographs, hip and lumbar spine bone density, and potential risk factors for and consequences of vertebral fractures were assessed in a random sample of 402 women age 50 years or older living in Beijing, China. The prevalence of vertebral fractures, defined by vertebral morphometry, increased from 5% (95% CI, 1-9%) in 50- to 59-year olds to 37% (27-46%) among women age 80 years or older. The age-standardized prevalence of vertebral fractures was 5.5% lower than found by similar methods for women in Rochester, MN, U.S.A. Each SD lower spine bone mineral density (BMD) was associated with a 2.4-fold (1.7-3.5) increased odds of having a vertebral fracture. Women with a history of heavy physical labor had a lower risk of vertebral fractures. Vertebral fractures were associated with decreased height loss and limited physical function but not chronic back pain. Women in Beijing, China have lower bone density and a slightly lower rate of vertebral fracture than white women in the United States. Low bone density and more sedentary occupations increase the risk of fracture in women living in urban China.