[Osteoporosis: the crisis of a paradigm]

Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Bone Fracture Risk in Middle-Aged Women: A Case Control Study

The prevention of bone mass loss and related complications associated with osteoporosis is a significant public health issue. The Mediterranean diet (MD) is favorably associated with bone health, a potentially modifiable risk factor. The objective of this research was to determine MD adherence in a sample of women with and without osteoporosis. In this observational case-control study of 139 women (64 women with and 75 without osteoporosis) conducted in a primary-care health center in Girona (Spain), MD adherence, lifestyle, physical exercise, tobacco and alcohol consumption, pathological antecedents, and FRAX index scores were analyzed. Logistic multilinear regression modeling to explore the relationship between the MD and bone fracture risk indicated that better MD adherence was associated with a lower bone risk fracture. Non-pharmacological preventive strategies to reduce bone fracture risk were also reviewed to explore the role of lifestyle and diet in bone mass maintenance and bone fracture prevention.

Correlation between mandibular bone density and skeletal bone density in a Catalonian postmenopausal population

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to determine if the mandible (MD) experiences reductions in bone mineral density (BMD) similar to the lumbar spine (LS) and femoral neck (FN) in a postmenopausal population.

STUDY DESIGN

A total of 137 postmenopausal women underwent 3 types of densitometric examinations: LS, FN, and MD as measured in 3 regions (MD-R1, MD-R2, and MD-R3), as well as the entire mandible (MD-Net) using a dual photon bone X-ray densitometer. Densitometry of the LS and FN were performed according to the protocol of the International Society for Clinical Densitometry. Mandibular densitometry was performed using a modification of a previous technique, placing the patient in the left lateral decubitus position, with the head supported by a 13-cm-thick cushion above the temporomandibular joint.

RESULTS

Significant correlations were found between densitometry results for the LS and the MD, with P values of .021 at MD-R1 (ramus); .001 at MD-R2 (body); .050 at MD-R3 (symphysis), and .001 at MD-Net (total mandibular density). No correlation was found between mandibular and FN densitometry (P > .05).

CONCLUSIONS

According to the results, for this population, it can be affirmed that the MD responds to osteoporosis in ways similar to the LS.

Use of oral bisphosphonates in primary prevention of fractures in postmenopausal women: a population-based cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To compare incidence of first osteoporotic fracture in two cohorts of postmenopausal women, one treated with bisphosphonates and the other only with calcium and vitamin D.

DESIGN

Retrospective population cohort study with paired matching based on data from electronic health records.

SETTING

Women aged 60 years and older in 2005, from 21 primary care centers in a healthcare region of Spain.

PARTICIPANTS

Two groups of women aged 60 years and older (n = 1208), prescribed either calcium and vitamin D (CalVitD) or bisphosphonates (BIPHOS) with or without calcium and vitamin D, were compared for the end point of first recorded osteoporotic-related fracture, with 5-years follow-up.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Incidence of first fracture: Vertebral fracture, osteoporosis with pathological fracture, fracture of the upper humeral epiphysis, fracture of the lower radial epiphysis, or femur fracture.

RESULTS

Estimated 10-year risk of fracture was 11.4% (95% confidence interval: 9.6 to 13.2), 11.8% (9.2 to 14.3) in the BIPHOS group and 11.1% (8.6 to 13.6) in the CalVitD group. No significant differences were found between groups in total fractures (Hazard ratio = 0.934 (0.67 to 1.31)) or location (vertebral, femoral, radial or humeral).

CONCLUSIONS

In postmenopausal women, bisphosphonates have not been shown to better decrease risk of first fracture compared with calcium and vitamin D therapy alone.

[FRAX® thresholds to identify people with high or low risk of osteoporotic fracture in Spanish female population]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

To detect FRAX(®) threshold levels that identify groups of the population that are at high/low risk of osteoporotic fracture in the Spanish female population using a cost-effective assessment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This is a cohort study. Eight hundred and sixteen women 40-90 years old selected from the FRIDEX cohort with densitometry and risk factors for fracture at baseline who received no treatment for osteoporosis during the 10 year follow-up period and were stratified into 3 groups/levels of fracture risk (low<10%, 10-20% intermediate and high>20%) according to the real fracture incidence.

RESULTS

The thresholds of FRAX(®) baseline for major osteoporotic fracture were: low risk<5; intermediate ≥ 5 to <7.5 and high ≥ 7.5. The incidence of fracture with these values was: low risk (3.6%; 95% CI 2.2-5.9), intermediate risk (13.7%; 95% CI 7.1-24.2) and high risk (21.4%; 95% CI12.9-33.2). The most cost-effective option was to refer to dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA-scan) for FRAX(®)≥ 5 (Intermediate and high risk) to reclassify by FRAX(®) with DXA-scan at high/low risk. These thresholds select 17.5% of women for DXA-scan and 10% for treatment. With these thresholds of FRAX(®), compared with the strategy of opportunistic case finding isolated risk factors, would improve the predictive parameters and reduce 82.5% the DXA-scan, 35.4% osteoporosis prescriptions and 28.7% cost to detect the same number of women who suffer fractures.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of FRAX ® thresholds identified as high/low risk of osteoporotic fracture in this calibration (FRIDEX model) improve predictive parameters in Spanish women and in a more cost-effective than the traditional model based on the T-score ≤ -2.5 of DXA scan.

[Wnt pathway and sclerostin as new targets for assessment and treatment of osteoporosis]

The increasing knowledge of bone biology has allowed the identification of new intracellular pathways involved in the regulation of remodelling and osteoblast activity. In this respect, the characterization of the Wnt pathway has been a breakthrough for its involvement and role in disorders of mineral metabolism. A better understanding of these signaling pathways may allow the development of new diagnostic markers and new drugs for metabolic bone disease, where despite extensive available therapies, unmet needs still persist. In this review, we make an approach to the discovery and functions of the Wnt pathway with a focus on bone effects. Next, we briefly review the main data about their endogenous antagonist, sclerostin, precisely where drug research is more advanced.

FRAX® tool, the WHO algorithm to predict osteoporotic fractures: the first analysis of its discriminative and predictive ability in the Spanish FRIDEX cohort

BACKGROUND

The WHO has recently published the FRAX® tool to determine the absolute risk of osteoporotic fracture at 10 years. This tool has not yet been validated in Spain.

METHODS/DESIGN

A prospective observational study was undertaken in women in the FRIDEX cohort (Barcelona) not receiving bone active drugs at baseline. Baseline measurements: known risk factors including those of FRAX® and a DXA. Follow up data on self-reported incident major fractures (hip, spine, humerus and wrist) and verified against patient records. The calculation of absolute risk of major fracture and hip fracture was by FRAX® website. This work follows the guidelines of the STROBE initiative for cohort studies. The discriminative capacity of FRAX® was analyzed by the Area Under Curve (AUC), Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) and the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test. The predictive capacity was determined using the ratio of observed fractures/expected fractures by FRAX® (ObsFx/ExpFx).

RESULTS

The study subjects were 770 women from 40 to 90 years of age in the FRIDEX cohort. The mean age was 56.8 ± 8 years. The fractures were determined by structured telephone questionnaire and subsequent testing in medical records at 10 years. Sixty-five (8.4%) women presented major fractures (17 hip fractures). Women with fractures were older, had more previous fractures, more cases of rheumatoid arthritis and also more osteoporosis on the baseline DXA. The AUC ROC of FRAX® for major fracture without bone mineral density (BMD) was 0.693 (CI 95%; 0.622-0.763), with T-score of femoral neck (FN) 0.716 (CI 95%; 0.646-0.786), being 0.888 (CI 95%; 0.824-0.952) and 0.849 (CI 95%; 0.737-0.962), respectively for hip fracture. In the model with BMD alone was 0.661 (CI 95%; 0.583-0.739) and 0.779 (CI 95%; 0.631-0.929). In the model with age alone was 0.668 (CI 95%; 0.603-0.733) and 0.882 (CI 95%; 0.832-0.936). In both cases there are not significant differences against FRAX® model. The overall predictive value for major fracture by ObsFx/ExpFx ratio was 2.4 and 2.8 for hip fracture without BMD. With BMD was 2.2 and 2.3 respectively. Sensitivity of the four was always less than 50%. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed a good correlation only after calibration with ObsFx/ExpFx ratio.

CONCLUSIONS

The current version of FRAX® for Spanish women without BMD analysed by the AUC ROC demonstrate a poor discriminative capacity to predict major fractures but a good discriminative capacity for hip fractures. Its predictive capacity does not adjust well because leading to underdiagnosis for both predictions major and hip fractures. Simple models based only on age or BMD alone similarly predicted that more complex FRAX® models.

[Osteoporosis and oral diseases]

Osteoporosis is a major cause of fractures in elderly women. Bone densitometry is used in order to detect osteoporosis. It has been observed can also be analyzed in the jawbone. The osteoporosis may be associated with resorption of the residual ridge, periodontitis and tooth loss; also the same treatments can affect the jaws. A search was carried out in the Medline-Pubmed database in order to search the association between osteoporosis and oral diseases over the past 5 years. Forty-two articles were obtained after the selection process. The authors stated that: in reference to periodontal disease the results are conflicting, but there seems to be a higher prevalence of the disease and tooth loss and resorption of the crest. Oral bisphosphonates have little risk of causing osteonecrosis, and there is no relationship in the dental implant failure among patients taking bisphosphonates. There is no clear scientific evidence that could link osteoporosis and oral diseases.

[Risk factors for fragility fractures in a cohort of Spanish women]

INTRODUCTION

Fragility fractures are an important public health issue. The aim of this study was to analyze the association of the main osteoporotic risk factors related to fragility fracture in a cohort of women with an indication of bone densitometry (BD).

METHODS

A retrospective cohort was followed-up until a fragile fracture occurred, in a population of women aged 40 to 90 years with a first visit for BD between January 1992 and February 2008. We calculated the incidence rate of fracture per 1000 women-years of follow-up, and the hazard ratio (HR) of fragile fracture using a Cox regression model.

RESULTS

A total of 49,735 women were studied. The average age of participants was 57.8 years (SD: 8.5). Of these, 3631 women (7.1%) reported a new fragility fracture in post-baseline visits. Risk factors with higher adjusted HR were age ≥ 75 years compared with age < 55 years (HR: 3.8; 95% CI: 3.3-4.4) and having a BC result evaluated as osteoporosis compared to normal (HR: 2.0; 95% CI: 1.8-2.2). A personal history of humerus, hip or vertebral fractures had an adjusted HR of 1.2 (95% CI: 1.1-1.3).

CONCLUSIONS

The main risk factors for fragility fracture were advanced age, BD result and a personal history of fracture, although 74% of fractures were detected with a bone mineral density classified as normal or osteopenia. Other relevant factors were rheumatoid arthritis or having received prolonged corticosteroid therapy.