Bones and Hormones: Information for Women Who Use Hormone-Containing Birth Control Methods
Women's Health Patient Information
Benefits of hormonal birth control methods outweigh concerns about bone health.
Chipping Away at Bone: Proton-Pump Inhibitors and Smoking
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Long-term PPI use was associated with excess risk for postmenopausal hip fractures, especially in smokers.
Erectile Dysfunction Appears to Be More Prevalent in Psoriatic Patients
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Free
Dermatologists should ask male patients with psoriasis about ED and make appropriate referrals.
Vitamin D and Calcium Supplements: What Do the Data Show? Who Should Be Treated?
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Vitamin D and calcium supplementation may lower fracture risk in some individuals, but data regarding its effects on cancer are inconclusive.
By Craig A. Elmets, MD
January 27, 2012
Covering:
Chung M et al., Ann Intern Med 2011 Dec 20; 155:827
When Should Bone-Density Tests Be Repeated?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
A 15-year interval is reasonable in older women if baseline BMD is normal or only mildly osteopenic.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
January 24, 2012
Covering:
Gourlay ML et al., N Engl J Med 2012 Jan 19; 366:225
Bone Fragility Does Indeed Mean More Fractures
A study in Denmark demonstrated an increased risk for osteoporotic fractures in HIV-infected patients and implicated antiretroviral therapy as a risk factor.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
January 23, 2012
Covering:
Hansen A-BE et al., AIDS 2012 Jan 28; 26:285
Prevalence of Knee Pain and Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis Rises
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Reports of knee pain are up and largely unexplained by age and weight.
Cost-Effectiveness of Various Screening Strategies for Osteoporosis
General Medicine Summary and Comment
A modeling analysis favored initial screening at age 55.
By Jamaluddin Moloo, MD, MPH
January 17, 2012
Covering:
Nayak S et al., Ann Intern Med 2011 Dec 6; 155:751
Schousboe JT and Gourlay ML., Ann Intern Med 2011 Dec 6; 155:788
Vitamin D and UVB Radiation: How Much Is Necessary?
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Free
For individuals unable to benefit from supplements, ultraviolet B exposure every 2 weeks may be an alternative.
Yoga and Stretching Are Better Than Usual Care for Chronic Low Back Pain
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Supervised stretching or exercise of any type is better than self-care.
By Thomas L. Schwenk, MD
January 5, 2012
Covering:
Sherman KJ et al., Arch Intern Med 2011 Dec 12/26; 171:2019
Bisphosphonate Use Extends Implant Survival After Primary Hip and Knee Arthroplasty
General Medicine Summary and Comment
In a U.K. study, bisphosphonate users had significantly lower rates of revision.
Traditional Metal-on-Polyethylene Hip Implants Aren't Inferior to Newer Devices
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Revision arthroplasty was needed more often by patients who received metal-on-metal or ceramic-on-ceramic devices.
Atypical Femur Fractures with Bisphosphonates
Risk is low but not inconsequential.
Bone Health in Women Who Discontinue Menopausal Hormone Therapy
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Bone mineral density fell and fracture risk rose after HT cessation.
Whole-Body Vibration: No Benefit for BMD
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Daily use of devices for 1 year did not improve bone-mineral density.
Clinicians Don't Always Follow Guidelines for Osteoporosis
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Free
Many women receive inappropriate screening and treatment.
Pulmonary Embolism After Total Hip Arthroplasty
General Medicine Summary and Comment
The incidence of PE was low with all prophylaxis modalities.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
October 27, 2011
Covering:
Khatod M et al., J Bone Joint Surg Am 2011 Oct 5; 93:1767
Can the Pill Strengthen the Skeleton?
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Cross-sectional study suggests oral contraceptives deliver bone benefits later in life.
See for Yourself: Amenorrhea Means Thinner Bones
Amenorrheic athletes had impaired bone microarchitecture compared with eumenorrheic athletes and nonathletic controls.
Adolescent Female Athletes Lack Awareness of Link Between Menses and Bone Health
Most female high-school track athletes incorrectly answered questions about bone loss and its connection to menstrual irregularity.
"HIV-Related" Osteopenia May Antedate HIV Infection
Low bone-mineral density was more common than expected among HIV-negative men who have sex with men and was correlated with amphetamine and inhalant use.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
September 26, 2011
Covering:
Liu AY et al., PLoS ONE 2011 Aug 29; 6:e23688
Inhaled Corticosteroids Raise Fracture Risk in COPD Patients
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Results should not deter ICS use in patients with moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Surgical Delay in Patients with Hip Fractures
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Surgery within 5 days provided no clear benefit.
Again, Soy Didn't Prevent Menopausal Bone Loss or Vasomotor Symptoms
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Two-year placebo-controlled trial failed to find benefit.
By Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD
August 25, 2011
Covering:
Levis S et al., Arch Intern Med 2011 Aug 8/22; 171:1363
Newton KM and Grady D., Arch Intern Med 2011 Aug 8/22; 171:1369
Tenofovir Use Linked to Fracture Risk
As reported at IAS 2011, the effect size was small but still worrisome.
