Each of these cases were compared with age ...

Long-term treatment of osteoporosis hiking opportunities atypical femur (hip) fractures almost three times, say researchers, but the absolute risk remains very small.

Bisphosphonates such as Fosamax (alendronate), Boniva (ibandronat), Actenel (ryzedronat), Zometa (zoledronat) and Didronel (etidronat) are widely used in patients with osteoporosis - most of them after menopause in women. Compared with postmenopausal women, treatment lasted less than 100 days, those who use the drug continuously for more than five years were related chances 2. 74 podvertelnyh or hip fractures in a large case-control study, according to Dr. Laura Park-Villa, St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, and colleagues. But among more than 50,000 older women in long-term therapy, bisphosphonates, the rate of atypical fractures was about one in 1,000 for each additional year of treatment in five years. The findings, published in the Feb. 23 issue of

Journal of the American Medical Association, the first atypical >> << quantitatively related to long-term bisphosphonates treatment, since these substances to increase the rate of fractures. The agency operates on a number of small studies and reports indicate higher levels of atypical fractures with increasing time on bisphosphonates. However, only a few months before that statement FDA proposed

, drugs that there was no additional risk. Meta-analysis published in the New England Journal of Medicine about the same time and atypical fractures of bisphosphonates. Conflicting messages "have left doctors and patients believe bisphosphonates increase the risk podvertelnyh or fractures of the femur shaft," Willie Park and his colleagues noted in the JAMA report. Researchers examined the prescription records and registry data of health care in Ontario for women in '68 and older, identifying those who had been prescribed oral medication bisphosphonates - Fosamax, Actonel, or Didronel. Willie Park and his colleagues then searched for women in this group, the records indicated podvertelnyh or hip fractures, and those who have "typical" of hip fractures associated with mezhvertelnoy or femoral neck. The latter is considered normal in osteoporosis patients as a result or other accidents. Atypical breaks, on the other hand, almost unheard of to bisphosphonates are commonly assigned. A total of 716 atypical and typical fractures of 9723 was found among older women who take bisphosphonates. Each of these cases were compared by age with five other women who do not suffer such fractures, which served as a control for statistical analysis. Duration of therapy bisphosphonates significantly correlated with the atypical fracture risk, researchers found. After adjustment kovariat such as comorbidity and history of fracture history and falls lasix 6 mg, the park-Villa and his colleagues calculated the odds ratio 2. 74 or atypical fractures in women taking bisphosphonates for at least five years for those who take drugs for less than 100 days. But the researchers stressed that the absolute risk was relatively small. Among 52 595 women whose records indicated bisphosphonates therapy lasting more than five years, the rate of atypical fractures was 0. 13 percent, six for treatment and 0. 22 percent for years six or seven put together. Because these data confirm the benefits of bisphosphonates for the prevention of the most common types of hip fractures, "Our results should not prevent doctors and patients using bisphosphonates in appropriate patients," Willie Park and his colleagues emphasized. In fact, they said, the study underestimates the benefits of drugs, because the data does not include fractures of the wrist and spine that bisphosphonates also been shown to prevent. What has yet to determine, Willie Park and his colleagues suggested that this optimal duration of therapy, as the risk of atypical fractures seems to increase with the extension. "The balance of benefits and risks of extended bisphosphonates therapy is unclear," they concluded. Read more in our. .