Osteoporosis drugs could benefit older women: Study

A new study has found that osteoporosis drugs could greatly benefit sick older and frail women, despite comorbidities.

A team from the University of Minnesota conducted the study that included 1528 participants over the age of 80. Researchers found women dealing with a host of health issues and osteoporosis are more likely to suffer a hip fracture within five years. The team also found for those with no osteoporosis but an increased risk of fracture risk, the competing mortality risk “far outweighs” hip fracture.

The findings suggest these women can benefit from this form of treatment. “Concerns about comorbidities and prognosis increase the complexity of managing osteoporosis in this age group,” study author Kristine Ensrud, M.D., MPH, from the University of Minnesota, told a news portal.

Even though treating people in the age group can be complex, there needs to be a solution to reducing the rates of people who suffer from a fracture. Sarah Berry, M.D., MPH of Harvard Medical School, feel clinicians need to take note of the risk of death, as well as medication risk. “Older patients with established osteoporosis and multiple comorbidities are at the greatest risk for hip fracture. We encourage additional research that will guide treatment in this growing patient population, and we hope that future guidelines for osteoporosis treatment will include recommendations for older patients with multimorbidity,” Berry told a news portal. The study's findings were originally published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Meanwhile, experts warn more and more young women in their 30s are suffering from osteoporosis.“Young women are not balancing their body weight properly on both the legs. There is pressure on one leg. This damages the knee tendons. The pain begins only when it reaches an advanced stage," Dr S. Sashikanth, an orthopaedic doctor, told a news portal.