Overview
This summary outlines risk factors and recommendations associated with fragility fractures and a treatment pathway for postmenopausal women from risk factors to pharmacological treatment. For further information, refer to the full guideline.
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Risk factors
Table 1: Risk factors associated with fragility fracture which should prompt consideration of fracture-risk assessment
Risk category | Causative factor |
---|---|
Non-modifiable risk factors |
|
Modifiable risk factors |
|
Coexisting diseases |
|
Drug therapy |
|
Table 2: Recommendations associated with modifiable risk factors for fragility fractures
Risk category | Affected group | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
Alcohol | People who consume more than 3.5 units per day of alcohol | Reduce alcohol intake to nationally recommended levels (<14 units per week) |
Smoking | All smokers | Stop smoking |
Weight | People with low BMI (<20kg/m2) | Achieve and maintain a BMI level of 20–25 kg/m2 |
Coexisting diseases | People with conditions that predispose to osteoporosis (see Table 1) | Where possible treat coexisting disease |
Drug treatments | People taking drugs that predispose to osteoporosis (see Table 1) | Where possible reduce or stop drug therapy |
Algorithm 1: Pathway from risk factors to pharmacological treatment selection in postmenopausal women
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Full guideline:
Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network. Management of osteoporosis and the prevention of fragility fractures. Edinburgh: SIGN; 2015. (SIGN Guideline No. 142). Available at: www.sign.ac.uk/our-guidelines/management-of-osteoporosis-and-the-prevention-of-fragility-fractures
Published date: August 2015.
Last updated: June 2020.
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