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Acid-Suppressive Medications and Risk of Bone Loss and Fracture in Older Adults

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Abstract

Recent studies have suggested an increased fracture risk with acid-suppressive medication use. We studied two cohorts of men and women over age 65 who were enrolled in the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study (MrOS) and the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures (SOF), respectively. We used dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and assessed baseline use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and/or H2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs) in 5,755 men and 5,339 women. Medication use and bone mineral density (BMD) were assessed, and hip and other nonspine fractures were documented. On multivariate analysis, men using either PPIs or H2RAs had lower cross-sectional bone mass. No significant BMD differences were observed among women. However, there was an increased risk of nonspine fracture among women using PPIs (relative hazard [RH] = 1.34, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.10–1.64). PPI use was also associated with an increased risk of nonspine fracture in men but only among those who were not taking calcium supplements (RH = 1.49, 95% CI 1.04–2.14). H2RA use was not associated with nonspine fractures, and neither H2RA use nor PPI use was associated with incident hip fractures in men or women. The use of PPIs in older women, and perhaps older men with low calcium intake, may be associated with a modestly increased risk of nonspine fracture.

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Acknowledgements

The SOF is supported by National Institutes of Health funding. The following institutes provide support: the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) and the National Institute on Aging (NIA) under grant numbers AG05407, AR35582, AG05394, AR35584, AR35583, R01 AG005407, R01 AG027576-22, 2 R01 AG005394-22A1, and 2 R01 AG027574-22A1. The MrOS is supported by National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding. The following institutes provide support: NIAMS, NIA, the National Center for Research Resources, and the NIH Roadmap for Medical Research under grant numbers U01 AR45580, U01 AR45614, U01 AR45632, U01 AR45647, U01 AR45654, U01 AR45583, U01 AG18197, U01-AG027810, and UL1 RR024140. Midcareer mentoring awards have been given to D. C. B. and N. E. L. (K24-AR-04884).

Conflict of interest statement

Dr. Bauer has received research funding from Merck, Amgen, Proctor and Gamble, and has consultancies for Merck, Zelos, and Tethys. All other authors have no conflicts of interest.

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Correspondence to Elaine W. Yu.

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On behalf of the SOF and MrOS Research Groups.

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Yu, E.W., Blackwell, T., Ensrud, K.E. et al. Acid-Suppressive Medications and Risk of Bone Loss and Fracture in Older Adults. Calcif Tissue Int 83, 251–259 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00223-008-9170-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00223-008-9170-1

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