In two new studies, researchers found that drugs called nitrogen-bisphosphonates, which are commonly prescribed for osteoporosis, could reduce the risk of premature death.
They found the drugs could reduce the premature death risk by 34%.
This reduction in early mortality risk was significantly associated with a reduction in bone loss compared with no treatment.
The research was led by the Garvan Institute of Medical Research.
Osteoporosis affects around 200 million people worldwide and is a progressive disease in which bones become more porous and fragile, often without symptoms until the first fracture occurs.
After the age of 50, 40% of women and 25% of men will sustain an osteoporotic fragility fracture in their life, an injury that puts them at risk of further fractures.
However, fewer than 30% of women and 20% of men with fragility fractures are taking approved treatments for osteoporosis.
In the first study, the team analyzed data of 6,120 participants aged over 50, who took part in the observational Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study.
They found that people treated with nitrogen-bisphosphonates (alendronate or risedronate) had a 34% reduction in mortality risk over 15 years, compared to non-treated people.
In the second study, the team analyzed data in 1,735 women from the first study.
They found that 39% of the reduction in premature mortality risk was mediated through a reduction in the rate of bone loss.
The researchers also directly compared the drugs nitrogen-bisphosphonates (alendronate or risedronate) with a weaker, non-nitrogen drug bisphosphonate and found a similar reduction in mortality risk benefit with the nitrogen-bisphosphonates.
The findings provide new advice about the big benefits of taking approved osteoporosis medicine for those at risk of osteoporosis, and their health care professional.
The team says it’s a common misconception that osteoporosis affects only women, and many people choose to not take recommended treatments.
But osteoporotic fractures are not benign.
Osteoporosis medication not only decreases the risk of further fractures—but it appears that this same medication also decreases mortality rates over the subsequent 15 years.
One author of the studies is Professor Jacqueline Center, who heads the Clinical Studies and Epidemiology laboratory at the Garvan Institute and is an Endocrinologist at St Vincent’s Hospital.
The studies are published in the journal Osteoporosis International and Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.
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