By: James Pitt  Jul. 30, 2018

Osteoporosis is a common disease of aging, associated with weakened bones. Bone fractures are associated with higher subsequent mortality. According to University of Washington Medicine, “The one-year mortality following a hip fracture is 12 to 24%. It is estimated that 14% of deaths following a hip or pelvic fracture in previously ambulatory women were caused or hastened by the fracture.”

By: James Pitt  Jul. 05, 2018

Osteoporosis is a major cause of fractures in American women. A study in the March 2018 volume of Osteoporosis International found that hip fracture rates have plateaued at an unexpectedly high level from 2013-2015, leading to an excess of 11,000 hip fractures over projections based on continuing decline.

By: James Pitt  May. 17, 2018

Osteoporosis is a disease that weakens bones and increases the risk of fracture, particularly common in elderly women. First-line treatment is with anti-resorptive drugs like bisphosphonates. A 2017 Lancet study found that patient concerns about bisphosphonates’ side effects limit their use. The American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) recommends that patients on bisphosphonates with low fracture risk take “drug holidays” to decrease their risk of serious side effects.

By: James Pitt  May. 07, 2018

Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones lose density over time. It is more common in women than men. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 24.5% of women over 65 have osteoporosis. Bone fractures are an especially important risk of osteoporosis, as elderly people with bone fractures are more likely to die within two years.

By: James Pitt  May. 02, 2018

Osteoporosis is a common disease among the Medicare population, which causes bones to lose density and makes them more susceptible to fracture. A 2004 Surgeon General's Report projected that half the women and one quarter of men in the US are likely to have at least one osteoporosis-related fracture in their lifetime.

By: James Pitt  Apr. 26, 2018

Dr. Michael Lewiecki of the New Mexico Clinical Research & Osteoporosis Center published a recent study of trends in osteoporosis-related fractures visible in Medicare claims data. Dr. Lewiecki's findings were so alarming Jane Brody of The New York Times referred to them as a "perfect storm" in a February 2018 article.