Updated recommendations for the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis: a local perspective.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the role of calcium supplementation in managing osteoporosis and improving bone health, particularly in postmenopausal women and elderly men.
Results Summary
The study found that adequate calcium and vitamin D supplementation is recommended for all individuals with osteoporosis or low bone mass, alongside other therapeutic modalities like alendronate. Calcium supplementation is part of a broader strategy to reduce fracture risk and improve bone health.
Population
Postmenopausal women, men older than 50 years, and individuals with clinical risk factors or diseases leading to osteoporosis.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vitamin D deficiency treatment | increase | bone health | all subjects with osteopenia or osteoporosis | - | should be suspected and treated | #1 |
Adequate calcium and vitamin D supplement | neutral | - | postmenopausal women and men older than 50 years presenting with osteoporotic fractures, persons having osteoporosis, persons having low bone mass and a high risk for fracture | - | recommended for all | #2 |
Weekly alendronate | neutral | - | postmenopausal women and men older than 50 years presenting with osteoporotic fractures, persons having osteoporosis, persons having low bone mass and a high risk for fracture | - | recommended as first-line therapy | #3 |
raloxifene or strontium ranelate | neutral | - | postmenopausal women and men older than 50 years presenting with osteoporotic fractures, persons having osteoporosis, persons having low bone mass and a high risk for fracture | - | recommended as alternatives to alendronate | #4 |
zoledronic acid intravenously once yearly | neutral | - | postmenopausal women and men older than 50 years presenting with osteoporotic fractures, persons having osteoporosis, persons having low bone mass and a high risk for fracture | - | recommended as second-line therapy | #5 |
teriparatide | neutral | - | postmenopausal women and men older than 50 years presenting with osteoporotic fractures, persons having osteoporosis, persons having low bone mass and a high risk for fracture | - | recommended as second-line therapy | #6 |
Postmenopausal osteoporosis and osteoporosis in elderly men are major health problems, with a significant medical and economic burden. Although osteopenia and osteoporosis are more common locally than in the West, fracture rates are generally less than in Western countries. Vitamin D deficiency is common in the region and contributes adversely to bone health. Vitamin D deficiency should be suspected and treated in all subjects with ostopenia or osteoporosis. The use of risk factors to determine fracture risk has been adopted by the World Health Organization and many international societies. Absolute fracture risk methodology improves the use of resources by targeting subjects at higher risk of fractures for screening and management. The King Faisal Specialist Hospital Osteoporosis Working Group recommends screening for women 65 years and older and for men 70 years and older. Younger subjects with clinical risk factors and persons with clinical evidence of osteoporosis or diseases leading to osteoporosis should also be screened. These guidelines provide recommendations for treatment for postmenopausal women and men older than 50 years presenting with osteoporotic fractures for persons having osteoporosis-after excluding secondary causes-or for persons having low bone mass and a high risk for fracture. The Working Group has suggested an algorithm to use at King Faisal Specialist Hospital that is based on the availability, cost, and level of evidence of various therapeutic modalities. Adequate calcium and vitamin D supplement are recommended for all. Weekly alendronate (in the absence of contraindications) is recommended as first-line therapy. Alternatives to alendronate are raloxifene or strontium ranelate. Second-line therapies are zoledronic acid intravenously once yearly, when oral therapy is not feasible or complicated by side effects, or teriparatide in established osteoporosis with fractures.