Osteoporosis Medication Decreases Mortality Risk

A new study indicates that not only does a once-a-year drug to treat osteoporosis reduce the likelihood of future fractures, it also lowers mortality rates.

While osteoporosis affects four times more women than men, men do suffer with the condition. Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones become thin, weak and brittle. If left untreated, individuals may suffer bone breakage, also known as bone fractures.

Hip, spine, and wrist fractures are the most common fractures occurring with osteoporosis; however, any bone is at risk for breaking. Hip and spine fractures are of particular concern to patients and physicians. Hip fractures often leave an individual debilitated or disabled. People suffering a hip fracture often must be hospitalized, rehabilitated to walk with assistance, and must undergo major surgery. Hip fractures can even lead to death.

Likewise, spinal fractures have consequences including deformity, severe back pain, and loss of height.

Reclast, a drug approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration in August 2007, is part of a class of drugs known as bisphosphonates. Fosamax, Boniva, and Actonel are also included in this class of drugs. Bisphosphonates are the standard treatment for osteoporosis. However, according to the authors of the study, there have been some problems getting patients to take the medication.

For this study, Dr. Kenneth W. Lyles and his associates examined the effectiveness of Reclast compared to a placebo. More than 2,000 women and men received either a placebo or a Reclast injection within 90 days of undergoing surgery for a hip fracture. Each patient was followed on average two years after receiving the injection.

Not surprisingly, the researchers discovered that while 14% of those who received the placebo suffered another fracture, only 8.6% of those who received Reclast suffered another fracture. This finding supports the body of research that Reclast is effective for treating osteoporosis.

The surprising finding in the study was that whereas 13.3% of those receiving the placebo died during the two-year follow-up period, only 9.6% of individuals who received Reclast died.

In other words, individuals who received Reclast for the treatment of their osteoporosis were 35% less likely to experience another bone fracture and 28% less likely to die than those who received a placebo injection.

The authors of this study admit that the findings would be better if they had tested Reclast against another medication to treat osteoporosis. Perhaps future research will focus on comparing which osteoporosis medication is most effective for treating the condition.

This study is published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

For more information on osteoporosis, please visit the National Osteoporosis Foundation.