Long-term treatment of postmenopausal women with strontium ranelate: results at 10 years
Postmenopausal osteoporosis is a chronic disease requiring long-term treatment. Strontium ranelate 2 g/day has proven efficacy against vertebral and non-vertebral (including hip) fractures over 5 years in postmenopausal women. This study [1] presents efficacy results over 10 years. The two double-blind placebo-controlled phase III studies SOTI and TROPOS included a total of 6740 Caucasian women with postmenopausal osteoporosis. Patients having participated in both studies up to 5 years were invited to enter a 3-year open-label extension study, subsequently extended by 2 years, and then received strontium ranelate up to 10 years.
Decreased bone strength in older men with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Observational cohort studies have found that type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated with a 50% to 80% increased risk of hip fracture, as well as a 30% to 70% increased risk of fracture of the proximal humerus and foot.
Although there is awareness of the higher fracture rates among diabetic adults, there are few data available on the factors responsible for this increased risk. Identifying these factors is a critical step in the development of potential interventions to prevent fractures among the growing segment of the adult population with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Smoking predicts incident fractures in elderly men
The aim of this study [1] was to investigate the association between smoking, and bone mineral density (BMD), and radiographically verified prevalent vertebral fractures, and incident fractures in elderly men. At baseline, 3003 men aged 69 to 80 years of age from the Swedish MrOs Study completed a standard questionnaire concerning smoking habits and had BMD of the hip and spine measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA); 1412 men had an X-ray of the thoracic- and lumbar spine. Radiologic registers were used to confirm reported new fractures after the baseline visit.
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Epidemiology of rib fractures in older men
The objective of this study [1] was to evaluate the causes and consequences of radiologically confirmed rib fractures (seldom considered in the context of osteoporosis) in community-dwelling older men. This was achieved through a prospective cohort study (Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) Study). Participants were 5995 men aged 65 or over, recruited in 2002 from six US sites; 99% answered mailed questionnaires about falls and fractures every 4 months for a mean 6.2-year follow-up. Main outcome measures were new fractures validated by radiology reports; multivariate Cox proportional hazard ratios were used to evaluate factors independently associated with time to incident rib fracture; associations between baseline rib fracture and incident hip and wrist fracture were also evaluated.
Genetic association between cardiovascular diseases and risk of hip fracture
Recent studies indicate common etiologies for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and osteoporotic fractures. The objective of this study [1] was to examine the relation between CVD and risk of hip fracture in twins and evaluate the relative importance of genetics and lifestyle factors in this association. A cohort of all 31936 Swedish twins born from 1914 to 1944 was followed up from the age of 50 years. The National Patient Registry identified twins with CVDs and fractures from 1964 through 2005. Time-dependent exposures using Cox proportional hazard regression models were evaluated.
 Download here the slide set presented by Prof. Friedlander, on Thursday, November 10th. |
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