MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Carolyn J. Crandall, MD, MS
Professor of Medicine
David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California,
Los Angeles
Medical Research: What are the main findings of the study?
Dr. Crandall:
1. We found high-strength evidence that several medications decrease
fracture risk when used by persons with bone density in the osteoporotic range and/or with pre-existing hip or vertebral fracture. While many of the medications (alendronate, risedronate, zoledronic acid, ibandronate, denosumab, teriparatide, and raloxifene) reduce vertebral fractures, a reduction in the risk of hip fracture is not demonstrated for all of the medications. In particular, hip fracture reduction is only demonstrated for alendronate, risedronate, zoledronic acid, and denosumab. Unfortunately, due to a lack of head-to-head trials, the comparative effectiveness of the medications is unclear.
2. The adverse effects of the medications vary. For example, raloxifene is associated with an increased risk of thromboembolic events, whereas denosumab and the bisphosphonate medications have been associated with increased risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw and atypical subtrochanteric femoral fractures.
(more…)