Osteoporosis Research

Osteoporosis is a condition that affects an individual’s bones, causing a decrease in bone density and degradation of the surrounding tissues (Tharpe, Farley & Jordan, 2013). According to recent studies, it is a public health issue that disproportionately affects women in their postmenopausal years (Lee, Maneno, Wutoh & Zuckerman, 2010). The weakening of these bones increases the likelihood of suffering abrupt fractures with loss of strength. The condition progresses without signs or discomfort and must be monitored on a regular basis to ensure that fractures are handled before they occur (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2012). The women’s health initiative study for prescribing antiosteoporosis medication indicated a reduction in estrogen therapy.

According to a survey conducted by De Waure et al. (2014), many women are affected by osteoporosis, and use of Denosumab has been seen to add values in the prevention of fractures. The study indicated that though there has been the use of strontium Renalates and bisphosphonates as first line treatment; Denosumab has been shown to be effective in reducing fractures (De Waure et al., 2014). More so, the researchers recommended that it should be administered subcutaneously after every six months. The results derived from the study indicated that it impacts the National Health Service budget through the reduction of cost used for the management of osteoporosis. Compared to the medications that had previously been used as first line treatment, it produces better results, and I cost effective (De Waure et al., 2014). Also, it can be employed for the management of outpatients with a higher percentage of compliance and efficacy.

As compared to the study, the women health initiative indicates that there has been a shift in the management of osteoporosis through the use of non-estrogen therapy (Lee et al., 2010). The findings of the initiative’s study showed that the use of hormone therapy containing estrogen and progestin had a positive effect on hip fractures though it increased the risk of stroke and breast cancer (Lee et al., 2010). The recent study, however, recommends the use of a monoclonal antibody that is administered once in every six months through the heath technology assessment (De Waure et al., 2014). The difference in the recommendations for management of the condition would cause confusion for the women who are looking to identify the best medication that would reduce the occurrence of fractures they would not know the best choice to make that would ensure that they are healthy and that their bones are strengthened.

Consequently, the study indicates that most of other drug alternatives used in the prevention of the condition need to be taken together with vitamin D and calcium. The use of most of the recommended options is seen to be effective though the use of Denosumab has a reduced cost for the efficiency of use by the patients (De Waure et al., 2014). The drug is also useful since it interferes with most of the conditions that increase bone resorption and reduces the incidence of both vertebrae and non-vertebrae fractures.

Additionally, the results are reliable according to the quantitative method used to conduct the study. The study was international carried out in different health care centers through a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The efficiency of the medication have been investigated and ascertained in reducing both the major and minor fractures in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis (De Waure et al., 2014). On the other hand, there were reduced side effects, and risk factors with the drug as compared to the estrogen and non-estrogen medications recommended in the WHI study. The drug could be recommended since there were no observed side effects such as increased infection, the risk of cancer, delayed healing of the fracture and cardiovascular conditions.

References

De Waure, C., Specchia, M. L., Cadeddu, C., Capizzi, S., Capri, S., Di Pietro, M. L., ... & Nicolotti, N. (2014). The prevention of postmenopausal osteoporotic fractures: results of the health technology assessment of a new antiosteoporotic drug. BioMed research international, 2014.

Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, & National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (n.d.). Women’s Health Initiative: WHI background and overview. Retrieved March 20, 2013, from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/whi/background.htm

Lee, E., Maneno, M. K., Wutoh, A. K., & Zuckerman, I. H. (2010). Long-term effect of the Women’s Health Initiative study on antiosteoporosis medication prescribing. Journal of Women’s Health, 19(5), 847-854.

Tharpe, N. L., Farley, C., & Jordan, R. G. (2013). Clinical practice guidelines for midwifery & Women’s health (4th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Publishers

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2012a). Womenshealth.gov. Retrieved from http://www.womenshealth.gov/