Management of Osteoporosis, Fracture and Falls in People with Multiple Sclerosis: Systematic Review of Guidelines.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to systematically review guidelines on osteoporosis prevention, screening, diagnosis, and management in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), including the role of vitamin D in bone health.
Results Summary
The review identified six guidelines, with two linking vitamin D to bone health in MS populations, but found inadequate recommendations overall for osteoporosis screening and management despite higher prevalence and risks in MS patients.
Population
People with multiple sclerosis (MS)
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
guidelines for MS populations targeting the management of osteoporosis, fracture and falls risk | decrease | the burden of musculoskeletal disease | people with multiple sclerosis (MS) | - | may help reduce | #1 |
vitamin D | neutral | bone health | people with multiple sclerosis (MS) | - | linked to | #2 |
acute glucocorticoid use for MS exacerbations | neutral | bone health | people with multiple sclerosis (MS) | - | focused on the effect of | #3 |
early diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis | decrease | fractures | people with multiple sclerosis (MS) | - | is necessary as | #4 |
development of structured clinical guidelines directed at specific healthcare services | increase | screening, appropriate management, and care of bone health | people with multiple sclerosis (MS) | - | will ensure | #5 |
People with multiple sclerosis (MS) have a higher prevalence of osteoporosis, falls and fractures. Guidelines for MS populations targeting the management of osteoporosis, fracture and falls risk may help reduce the burden of musculoskeletal disease in this population. We aimed to systematically review current guidelines regarding osteoporosis prevention, screening, diagnosis and management in people with MS. In accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines, a systematic review of scientific databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase and Scopus) was performed (n = 208). In addition, websites from MS organisations and societies were screened for clinical guidelines (n = 28). Following duplicate removal, screening and exclusions (n = 230), in total six guidelines were included in this review. Three of the identified guidelines were specific to managing osteoporosis in MS, while two linked vitamin D to bone health and one was focused on the effect of acute glucocorticoid use for MS exacerbations on bone health. All guidelines were found to contain inadequate recommendations for osteoporosis screening, management and treatment in people with MS given the evidence of higher prevalence of osteoporosis at an earlier age and compounding risk factors in this population. Early diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis in people with MS is necessary as fractures lead to significant morbidity and mortality. Development of structured clinical guidelines directed at specific healthcare services will ensure screening, appropriate management, and care of bone health in people with MS.