Reassess Prescription Drug Use after a Fracture
“Not treating patients with osteoporosis drugs after a fracture would be like discharging a patient after a myocardial infarction without drugs to prevent a subsequent infarction,” researchers write in JAMA Internal Medicine.
A study in the Aug. 22 issue of JAMA Internal Medicine finds that more than 85% of patients who experienced a hip, humerus or wrist fracture, were still taking one or more drugs known to increase fracture risk or decrease mineral bone density - four months after the initial fracture. Patients who have had a fracture are at high risk of subsequent falls and fracture. So, reducing psychotropic medications and prescribing medications that can prevent fractures, could reduce fractures in this high-risk group, researchers reported. In this slideshow, we highlight some key points from the study.
References:
Sarah D. Berry, MD; Douglas P. Kiel, MD.
"Medication Review After a Fracture-Absolutely Essential,"
JAMA Internal Medicine.
Aug. 22, 2016. DOI:10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.4822 Jeffrey C. Munson, MD, Julie P. W. Bynum, MD, et. al.
"Patterns of Prescription Drug Use Before and After Fragility Fracture,"
Aug. 22, 2016.
JAMA Internal Medicine
. DOI:10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.4814
