Predisposing factors associated with atypical femur fracture among postmenopausal Korean women receiving bisphosphonate therapy: 8 years’ experience in a single center

J. H. Koh, J. P. Myong, J. Yoo, Y. W. Lim, J. Lee, S. K. Kwok, S. H. Park, J. H. Ju

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43 Scopus citations

Abstract

Summary: The risk factors for atypical femur fracture in patients exposed to bisphosphonates for at least 1 year were examined. Prolonged and continuous use of bisphosphonates, long-term use of glucocorticoids, and a higher body mass index were associated with increased risk of atypical femur fracture. Introduction: The purpose of the present study is to determine whether rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other clinical factors are associated with an increased risk of bisphosphonate (BP)-related atypical femur fracture (AFF). Methods: A retrospective nested case-control study of patients who had taken BPs for at least 1 year was conducted. Patients with AFF were identified by reviewing surgical and radiographic records. Three controls with no history of AFFs were randomly selected and age- and sex-matched to each patient with AFFs. Cox proportional hazard models were used to analyze the independent contribution of risk factors to BP-related AFF. Results: Among the 35,104 patients prescribed BPs for at least 1 year, 43 females (mean age, 68 years) suffered AFFs (0.12%). Patients with AFFs were exposed to BPs for a mean of 7.3 years. Patients with AFFs were exposed to BPs for longer than those without AFFs and continued treatment without a drug holiday. More patients with AFF than controls had taken glucocorticoids and disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. Multivariate Cox regression analyses estimated that long-term use of glucocorticoids, prolonged exposure to BP without cessation, and every 1 kg/m2 increase in the body mass index (BMI) increased the hazard ratio for AFFs by 3.0, 5.2, and 1.2, respectively. Conclusions: Prolonged and continuous use of BPs, long-term use of glucocorticoids, and a higher BMI increase the risk of AFFs. Switching long-term BP and glucocorticoid users to other bone-protective agents should be considered.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3251-3259
Number of pages9
JournalOsteoporosis International
Volume28
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Nov 2017

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2017, International Osteoporosis Foundation and National Osteoporosis Foundation.

Keywords

  • Bisphosphonates
  • Femoral fractures
  • Glucocorticoids
  • Rheumatoid arthritis

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