Real-world effectiveness of osteoporosis therapies for fracture reduction in post-menopausal women

Summary: Studies examining real-world effectiveness of osteoporosis therapies are beset by limitations due to confounding by indication. By evaluating longitudinal changes in fracture incidence, we demonstrated that osteoporosis therapies are effective in reducing fracture risk in real-world practice settings. Introduction: Osteoporosis therapies have been shown to reduce incidence of vertebral and non-vertebral fractures in placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials. However, information on the real-world effectiveness of these therapies is limited. Methods: We examined fracture risk reduction in older, post-menopausal women treated with osteoporosis therapies. Using Medicare claims, we identified 1,278,296 women age ≥ 65 years treated with zoledronic acid, oral bisphosphonates, denosumab, teriparatide, or raloxifene. Fracture incidence rates before and after treatment initiation were described to understand patients’ fracture risk profile, and fracture reduction effectiveness of each therapy was evaluated as a longitudinal change in incidence rates. Results: Fracture incidence rates increased during the period leading up to treatment initiation and were highest in the 3-month period most proximal to treatment initiation. Fracture incidence rates following treatment initiation were significantly lower than before treatment initiation. Compared with the 12-month pre-index period, there were reductions in clinical vertebral fractures for denosumab (45%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 39–51%), zoledronic acid (50%; 95% CI 47–52%), oral bisphosphonates (24%; 95% CI 22–26%), and teriparatide (72%; 95% CI 69–75%) during the subsequent 12 months. Relative to the first 3 months after initiation, clinical vertebral fractures were reduced for denosumab (51%; 95% CI 42–59%), zoledronic acid (25%; 95% CI 17–32%), oral bisphosphonates (23%; 95% CI 20–26%), and teriparatide (64%; 95% CI 58–69%) during the subsequent 12 months. Conclusion: In summary, reductions in fracture incidence over time were observed in cohorts of patients treated with osteoporosis therapies.</p

Trends in serum cholesterol levels from 1980 to 1987

To the Editor: Burke et al. (April 4 issue)1 claim that blood cholesterol levels decreased significantly in the Twin Cities between 1980–1982 and 1985–1987, attributing the decrease to both changes in lifestyle and intervention by physicians. Total cholesterol levels decreased 2.4 percent in men and 3.0 percent in women during that interval. There is no mention of whether the subjects\u27 blood was drawn at a particular time during the year or throughout the year. There is a cyclic, seasonal variation of 3 percent in total cholesterol levels in North America, the levels being higher in the winter than the summer. © 1991, Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved

Osteonecrosis of the jaw and bisphosphonate treatment for osteoporosis.

A potential side effect associated with bisphosphonates, a class of drugs used in the treatment of osteoporosis, Paget's disease and metastatic bone disease, is osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). The incidence of ONJ in the general population is unknown; this rare condition also may occur in patients not receiving bisphosphonates. Case reports have discussed ONJ development in patients with multiple myeloma or metastatic breast cancer receiving bisphosphonates as palliation for bone metastases. These patients are also receiving chemotherapeutic agents that might impair the immune system and affect angiogenesis. The incidence or prevalence of ONJ in patients taking bisphosphonates for osteoporosis seems to be very rare. No causative relationship has been unequivocally demonstrated between ONJ and bisphosphonate therapy. A majority of ONJ occurs after tooth extraction. Furthermore, the underlying risk of developing ONJ may be increased in osteoporotic patients by comorbid diseases. Treatment for ONJ is generally conservative