Secondary Fracture Prevention: Consensus Clinical Recommendations from a Multistakeholder Coalition
Robert B. Conley, Center for Medical Technology Policy, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Gemma Adib, Osteoporosis Centre, Damascus, Syria.
Robert A. Adler, McGuire VA Medical Center, Richmond, VA, USA.
Kristina E. Åkesson, Lund University and Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Scania, Sweden.
Ivy M. Alexander, UConn School of Nursing, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA.
Kelly C. Amenta, Department of Physician Assistant Studies, Mercyhurst University, Erie, PA, USA.
Robert D. Blank, Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Clinical Nutrition, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
William Timothy Brox, UCSF Fresno, Fresno, CA, USA.
Emily E. Carmody, Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA.
Karen Chapman-Novakofski, Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA.
Bart L. Clarke, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism, Nutrition, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
Kathleen M. Cody, American Bone Health, Raleigh, NC, USA.
Cyrus Cooper, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
Carolyn J. Crandall, Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Douglas R. Dirschl, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
Thomas J. Eagen, National Council on Aging, New York, NY, USA.
Ann L. Elderkin, American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, Washington, DC, USA.
Masaki Fujita, Science Department, International Osteoporosis Foundation, Nyon, Switzerland.
Susan L. Greenspan, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Philippe Halbout, International Osteoporosis Foundation, Nyon, Switzerland.
Marc C. Hochberg, Division of Rheumatology, University of Maryland School of Medicine and VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Muhammad Javaid, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, USA.
Kyle J. Jeray, Prisma Health - Upstate (formerly Greenville Health System), Greenville, SC, USA.
Ann E. Kearns, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism, Nutrition, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
Toby King, US Bone and Joint Initiative, Rosemont, IL, USA.
Thomas F. Koinis, Duke Primary Care Oxford, Oxford, NC, USA.
Jennifer Scott Koontz, Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, Newton Medical Center, Newton, KS, USA.
Martin Kužma, 5th Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia.
Carleen Lindsey, Bones, Backs and Balance, LLC, Bristol Physical Therapy, LLC, Bristol, CT, USA.
Mattias Lorentzon, Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
George P. Lyritis, Hellenic Osteoporosis Foundation, Athens, Greece.
Laura Boehnke Michaud, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Abstract
Osteoporosis-related fractures are undertreated, due in part to misinformation about recommended approaches to patient care and discrepancies among treatment guidelines. To help bridge this gap and improve patient outcomes, the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research assembled a multistakeholder coalition to develop clinical recommendations for the optimal prevention of secondary fractureamong people aged 65 years and older with a hip or vertebral fracture. The coalition developed 13 recommendations (7 primary and 6 secondary) strongly supported by the empirical literature. The coalition recommends increased communication with patients regarding fracture risk, mortality and morbidity outcomes, and fracture risk reduction. Risk assessment (including fall history) should occur at regular intervals with referral to physical and/or occupational therapy as appropriate. Oral, intravenous, andsubcutaneous pharmacotherapies are efficaciousandcanreduce risk of future fracture.Patientsneededucation,however, about thebenefitsandrisks of both treatment and not receiving treatment. Oral bisphosphonates alendronate and risedronate are first-line options and are generally well tolerated; otherwise, intravenous zoledronic acid and subcutaneous denosumab can be considered. Anabolic agents are expensive butmay be beneficial for selected patients at high risk.Optimal duration of pharmacotherapy is unknown but because the risk for second fractures is highest in the earlypost-fractureperiod,prompt treatment is recommended.Adequate dietary or supplemental vitaminDand calciumintake shouldbe assured. Individuals beingtreatedfor osteoporosis shouldbe reevaluated for fracture risk routinely, includingvia patienteducationabout osteoporosisandfracturesandmonitoringfor adverse treatment effects.Patients shouldbestronglyencouraged to avoid tobacco, consume alcohol inmoderation atmost, and engage in regular exercise and fall prevention strategies. Finally, referral to endocrinologists or other osteoporosis specialists may be warranted for individuals who experience repeated fracture or bone loss and those with complicating comorbidities (eg, hyperparathyroidism, chronic kidney disease).