Biomaterial Database

Underdiagnosis and Undertreatment of Osteoporosis: The Battle to Be Won. 2016

Paul D Miller

Colorado Center for Bone Research, Lakewood, Colorado 80227.

BACKGROUND An expert opinion perspective on why osteoporosis is underdiagnosed and undertreated. OBJECTIVE To highlight the potential reasons for why osteoporosis is undertreated. METHODS Literature review from PubMed, Plos One, and Science Direct search engines from 1900-2015 under terms: sub-trochanteric and atypical femur fractures, bisphosphonate clinical trial and bisphosphonate review articles, and treatment/under treatment of osteoporosis, as well as personal experience. METHODS Careful and objective review. METHODS Derived from reviews. METHODS Bisphosphonates. RESULTS Atypical sub-trochanteric femur fractures. RESULTS Atypical sub-trochanteric femur fractures occur in both bisphosphonate and non-bisphosphonate users; and, bisphosphonate utilization has declined in temporal relationship with the reporting of these fractures associated with bisphosphonate use. There is no causality in this association and the benefit/risk ratio of bisphosphonates reducing all fracture risk vs the potential for the development of an atypical sub-trochanteric femur fracture is exceedingly in favor of bisphosphonate use in higher risk populations. CONCLUSIONS Treatments for osteoporosis should not be stopped (e.g. the "drug-holidays") in higher risk patients since the basic pathophysiology of osteoporosis continues; and, the evidence linking bisphosphonate use to causing atypical sub-trochanteric femur fractures is non-existent.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010024	Osteoporosis	Reduction of bone mass without alteration in the composition of bone, leading to fractures. Primary osteoporosis can be of two major types: postmenopausal osteoporosis (OSTEOPOROSIS, POSTMENOPAUSAL) and age-related or senile osteoporosis.	Age-Related Osteoporosis,Bone Loss, Age-Related,Osteoporosis, Age-Related,Osteoporosis, Post-Traumatic,Osteoporosis, Senile,Senile Osteoporosis,Osteoporosis, Involutional,Age Related Osteoporosis,Age-Related Bone Loss,Age-Related Bone Losses,Age-Related Osteoporoses,Bone Loss, Age Related,Bone Losses, Age-Related,Osteoporoses,Osteoporoses, Age-Related,Osteoporoses, Senile,Osteoporosis, Age Related,Osteoporosis, Post Traumatic,Post-Traumatic Osteoporoses,Post-Traumatic Osteoporosis,Senile Osteoporoses
D004164	Diphosphonates	Organic compounds which contain P-C-P bonds, where P stands for phosphonates or phosphonic acids. These compounds affect calcium metabolism. They inhibit ectopic calcification and slow down bone resorption and bone turnover. Technetium complexes of diphosphonates have been used successfully as bone scanning agents.	Bisphosphonate,Bisphosphonates
D005264	Femoral Fractures	Fractures of the femur.	Femoral Fracture,Fracture, Femoral,Fractures, Femoral
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D015502	Absorptiometry, Photon	A noninvasive method for assessing BODY COMPOSITION. It is based on the differential absorption of X-RAYS (or GAMMA RAYS) by different tissues such as bone, fat and other soft tissues. The source of (X-ray or gamma-ray) photon beam is generated either from radioisotopes such as GADOLINIUM 153, IODINE 125, or Americanium 241 which emit GAMMA RAYS in the appropriate range; or from an X-ray tube which produces X-RAYS in the desired range. It is primarily used for quantitating BONE MINERAL CONTENT, especially for the diagnosis of OSTEOPOROSIS, and also in measuring BONE MINERALIZATION.	Absorptiometry, X-Ray,Dual-Photon Absorptiometry,Photodensitometry, X-Ray,Photon Absorptiometry,Single-Photon Absorptiometry,X-Ray Absorptiometry,Absorptiometry, Dual X-Ray,Absorptiometry, Dual-Energy Radiographic,Absorptiometry, Dual-Energy X-Ray,DEXA Scan,DPX Absorptiometry,DXA Scan,Densitometry, X-Ray,Densitometry, Xray,Dual X-Ray Absorptiometry,Dual-Energy Radiographic Absorptiometry,Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry,Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry Scan,Radiographic Absorptiometry, Dual-Energy,X-Ray Absorptiometry, Dual-Energy,X-Ray Photodensitometry,Absorptiometries, DPX,Absorptiometry, DPX,Absorptiometry, Dual Energy Radiographic,Absorptiometry, Dual Energy X Ray,Absorptiometry, Dual X Ray,Absorptiometry, Dual-Photon,Absorptiometry, Single-Photon,Absorptiometry, X Ray,DEXA Scans,DXA Scans,Densitometry, X Ray,Dual Energy Radiographic Absorptiometry,Dual Energy X Ray Absorptiometry,Dual Energy X Ray Absorptiometry Scan,Dual Photon Absorptiometry,Dual X Ray Absorptiometry,Photodensitometry, X Ray,Radiographic Absorptiometry, Dual Energy,Scan, DEXA,Scan, DXA,Scans, DEXA,Scans, DXA,Single Photon Absorptiometry,X Ray Absorptiometry,X Ray Absorptiometry, Dual Energy,X Ray Photodensitometry,X-Ray Absorptiometry, Dual,X-Ray Densitometry,Xray Densitometry
D058866	Osteoporotic Fractures	Breaks in bones resulting from low bone mass and microarchitectural deterioration characteristic of OSTEOPOROSIS.	Fracture, Osteoporotic,Fractures, Osteoporotic,Osteoporotic Fracture