La Revue du Praticien · Dec 2020
Evidence of anti-fracture efficacy of osteoporotic treatments
By Herrou J, Roux C
Evidence of anti-fracture efficacy of osteoporotic treatments. The number of osteoporotic fractures is increasing considerably because of an increase in the number of elderly patients at high risk of falls and fractures; consequences on morbidity and mortality and health costs are important. Despite the availability of effective treatments to reduce the risk of fractures, less than 15% of patients with recent low-trauma fractures receive anti-osteoporotic treatment. Lack of knowledge about the effectiveness of treatments and fear about adverse effects by both patients and health professionals partly explain this situation. These treatments have been shown to be highly effective in reducing the risk of vertebral and non-vertebral fractures and increasing bone mineral density in osteoporotic patients with or without a history of fractures, and with a low risk of adverse effects. In addition, recent data from a meta-analysis suggest that a therapeutic strategy based on a densitometric target may be effective in further reducing the risk of fractures.