More Americans Are Getting Osteoporosis

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More Americans Are Getting Osteoporosis

July 27, 2004

CHICAGO (AP) -- The number of Americans diagnosed with osteoporosis surged

sevenfold over the past decade, coinciding with the development and

marketing of new drugs to treat the bone-thinning condition, a study found.

As of 2003, there were an estimated 3.6 million people who had been

diagnosed with osteoporosis, compared with half a million in 1994, according

to the study by Stanford University researchers. Also, the number of doctor

visits for the condition jumped to 6.3 million last year from 1.3 million in

1994.

The increases coincided with the introduction of the bone-protecting drugs

alendronate, sold as Fosamax, in 1995; raloxifene, or Evista, in 1997; and

risedronate, or Actonel, in 1998.

All three are among the non-hormonal alternatives to estrogen supplements,

which have long been used to prevent osteoporosis but have lost popularity

because of recent studies linking them to heart problems, breast cancer and

other risks.

In 1988, estrogen was prescribed at 35 percent of osteoporosis-related

doctor visits, but that fell to 3 percent last year, the study found.

The estrogen alternatives have grown into a multibillion-dollar-a year

industry with widespread ads and slick promotional campaigns that have

helped raise awareness about osteoporosis. The researchers said that

probably helped increase diagnosis rates.

Partly because of the newer drugs, " the whole way that we think about

osteoporosis has shifted ... to one of prevention, " said Dr. Randall

Stafford, who led the study. " We hope to catch it early enough to treat it

early enough to prevent fractures. "

Nevertheless, osteoporosis remains underdiagnosed and undertreated, said Dr.

Ethel Siris, head of the National Osteoporosis Foundation's science and

research committee.

Osteoporosis affects an estimated 10 million Americans, mostly women, who

face a high risk of debilitating bone fractures, according to the

foundation. An additional 34 million have less severe bone thinning that

also increases the risk.

The study's authors said new guidelines recommending universal screening for

women 65 and older may further improve diagnosis and treatment.

The study appears in Monday's Archives of Internal Medicine.

Stafford and colleagues analyzed data from a physician survey conducted by

IMS Health, a health care information company. About 3,500 randomly selected

doctors participate each quarter in the survey.

Prescriptions for calcium, an older standard treatment for osteoporosis,

fell during the study period. The authors had no data on sales of

over-the-counter calcium pills. Stafford said the decrease is a concern,

because calcium remains an important way of helping to prevent osteoporosis.

Siris agreed. Getting calcium and vitamin D -- either through diet or

supplements -- and exercising " are part of the package " for preventing

osteoporosis, she said. " Those things are cheap and easy. "