Osteoporosis: a risk factor for VTE
The incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) varies according to the presence of a number of risk factors; most notably age, immobilization, hospitalization, and surgery. In addition, aging is accompanied by an increasing incidence of chronic diseases, which can impair general health status, and may also indirectly increase the risk of VTE. One such chronic disease is osteoporosis.
The objectives of this study [1] were to explore the incidence of VTE and its risk factors in osteoporotic and nonosteoporotic women and to investigate the relationship between incidence of VTE and the antiosteoporotic treatments strontium ranelate and sodium alendronate.
Based on a retrospective study, the annual incidence of VTE increased from 3.2/1000 patients-years for nonosteoporotic women to 5.6/1000 patients-years for osteoporotic women. An age-adjusted model allowed authors to determine an increase in the risk of developing VTE of 43% in osteoporotic versus nonosteoporotic women.
Considering treatment effect, no significant differences between untreated and strontium ranelate- or alendronate-treated osteoporotic patients could be determined.
This study shows for the first time a greater incidence of VTE in osteoporotic patients than in nonosteoporotic patients, but does not show any greater incidence of VTE in osteoporosis-treated patients than in untreated osteoporotic patients. Osteoporosis is by itself a risk factor for the development of venous thromboembolism.
- Breart et al. Osteoporos Int. 2010;21:1181-1187.
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