Osteoporosis – Preventing the Silent Killers “Fractures”

The disease Osteoporosis is commonly considered to affect just “Old” women, and many people do not appear to be aware that this disease is preventable and treatable in most people. Women over 65 are the highest risk group for fractures, however it affects all age groups, including our young. Only 19% of people with Osteoporosis are diagnosed, which is why everyone should be checking to see if they have any of the 200 causes of bone loss.

An example of this is the DXA scan below (figure 1). It shows the results of a 21 year old female who was diagnosed with severe bone loss at 19 in her spine.

Her DXA results show she now has marked Osteopenia in L1 and L3, Osteoporosis at L2 and severe bone loss at L4.

Thankfully she was diagnosed, investigated and put on a treatment plan. You can see from the graph named “AP spine: L2-L4 (L3) (BMD) % change vs Previous”, that in two years she has significantly improved her bone health.

The fact that two of her vertebrae had been eliminated from her DXA scan results, shows that even the young can develop Osteoarthritis, which is why L1 and L3 vertebrae were eliminated. Osteoarthritis can give false higher readings falsely showing the bones are healthier than they are.

This person’s causes of bone loss was due to overexercising, which caused irregular periods and she also had high cortisol levels due to a stressful job. By early intervention occurring the person so far has been able to improve her bone health and prevent vertebral fractures from occurring.

Research shows that most fractures occur in the moderate to marked Osteopenia range, which is a T score of -1.5 to -2.49. It was explained to her the consequences of her lifestyle choices and the effects of what vertebral fractures can do to a person’s quality of life. No one wants to end up disfigured with the possibility of a Dowager’s hump which is not reversable. The individual reduced the amount of exercise she was doing to “normal levels”, which resulted in her periods returning, which assisted with her improvement of bone health, as her oestrogen levels returned to normal. She also learned some stress coping techniques that she could use at her office desk, as she had previously increased her running times in an attempt to decrease her stress levels.

After the menopause, the ovaries stop producing oestrogen and the adrenal glands produce the male hormone testosterone, which is then converted into oestrogen by the peripheral fat. When a person is underweight, they do not have enough peripheral fat to assist with this process. Oestrogen is necessary to help protect bone and to also help in the formation of Vitamin D and absorption of calcium. When Vitamin D levels are low, bone loss occurs which increases the person risk of fractures.

The lesson to be learned is that prevention of breaking bones is much cheaper and less painful than just targeting the highest risk group for bone loss.

NOTE Depo Provera has been proven to cause bone loss, therefore unless a young person is very high risk to become pregnant, the Irish Osteoporosis Society (IOS) would recommend a different form of contraceptive.

Women lose bone leading up to the menopause, going through the menopause and the most significant bone loss occurs in the 10 years post menopause. In general, we can only assume that the more risk factors for bone loss a person has, the higher the bone loss they will experience.

1 in 7 women will get breast cancer and there is a breast screening service available. In an ideal world it would be wonderful if DXA scanning would become part of an overall health plan tied into a peri menopause screening, as 1 in 2 women aged 50 will break a bone from Osteoporosis in their lifetime.

Some people are of the belief that DXA scans place a person at high risk of radiation exposure, if you have heard this, it is not accurate. A DXA scan exposes a patient to 10% radiation of a regular Chest X-ray. A person flying from Dublin to New York will be exposed to more radiation than a DXA scan. DXA scanning is what the IOS, the Osteoporosis national experts recommend for the screening, diagnosing and monitoring of bone loss.

Do you want to be the person or a loved one of yours who ends up with multiple fractures which could have been prevented, as research shows that most fractures are preventable?

The Irish Osteoporosis Society believe that focusing on over 65’s is playing “Russian roulette” with people’s lives, especially women’s lives. On the top of page 40 (figure 2) shows why all women should be screened for bone loss. The results also show that when a person has been diagnosed with Osteopenia, which is the early stages of bone loss, they MUST be monitored. The reason monitoring is so important is because bone loss is silent, NO one feels bone loss. There are no signs or symptoms of bone loss and logically all disease’s should be monitored and the DXA scan results show the woman’s bone health in her spine had declined by 40% in ten years and 23% in her hips.

The woman’s DXA scan results below (figure 3) show that she had a DXA scan done in 2012.

Her DXA results (aged 60) from 18 06 2018 show her bone density in her spine had declined 22.8% from her previous DXA scan which was done 6 years prior on 02 08 2012 (aged 54).

Her latest DXA scan results (aged 64) on 15 08 2022 show her bone density in her spine had declined by 17.2% since 18 06 2018, in 4 years.

The graph in the image on the top of page 41 (figure 4) shows how her BMD (Bone mineral Density) plummeted from age 54 to 64.

Her DXA results from 18 06 2018 show her bone density in her hips had declined by 13.3% in 6 years.

Her latest DXA scan results in the image below on 15 08 2022 show her bone density in her hips had declined by a further 9.7% in four years.

The most significant results were from the LVA, which is a Lateral Vertebral Assessment which is a DXA side view of a person’s spine. This woman went through the menopause at 51.

The DXA LVA report at the bottom of page 41 (figure 5) shows she now has a T 5 Moderate Biconcavity fracture at T5 and T9 and a severe Biconcavity fracture at L1.

Could these fractures have been prevented? No one can say 100% yes. However logically, if she had been regularly monitored and when the initial bone loss occurred in 2018 her causes of bone loss had been investigated and addressed, there is a very high chance, the vertebral fractures could have been prevented.

Monitoring of bone health is essential, it is common sense. If a person had a heart attack, what cardiologist do you know would say “Come back in 5 years for a check up”. There are those who believe repeat DXA scans should be every 5 years. This woman is a prime example of why if a person has bone loss, they need to be regularly monitored.

Osteoporosis is not like most other diseases because there are no signs or symptoms prior to someone fracturing. Most people are taking treatments to supress symptoms or slow down the progression of other diseases, Osteoporosis treatments have been proven to reduce fracture risk. It is essential to ensure a person is responding to their treatment and if a decline occurs switching a treatment should not be the first option. Investigating and addressing why their DXA scan results have declined or similar to the case above, investigating why they have fractured is crucial to help keep the person independent.

Cancer and Osteoporosis

Anyone who is going to receive chemotherapy or radiation for cancer should have a DXA scan done prior to the initiation of either treatment. If positive or negative for bone loss they should be put on a bone health plan, as both cause significant bone loss. If the person is negative for bone loss prior to the treatment, they need to be placed on an Osteoporosis treatment to prevent bone loss occurring. For a person to fight cancer to stay alive and end up with multiple fractures is not acceptable. Ireland is not a third world country and for any of you or your customers who have had either treatment or are on Medications like Arimidex or aromatase inhibitors, they need to be informed to get a DXA scan done.

There are two types of Diabetes Mellitus (DM). Type 1 which is a genetic disorder and people are usually diagnosed when they are young due to an insulin deficiency. Type 2 DM usually develops due to a poor dietary intake, and this usually develops over time. People with Type 1 and 2 DM are at risk of fractures due to Osteoporosis.

When a woman goes through the menopause, it is very important it is not assumed that this is the only cause of her bone loss, as there are approx. 200 other causes of bone loss.

• HRT should only be given to those who go through an early menopause before age 45, who do not have contraindications, and those who have menopausal symptoms.

• HRT should not be prescribed just to protect bone health.

• For those who are going through an early menopause HRT should consist of oestrogen and progesterone. Oestrogen only should not be prescribed unless they have had a hysterectomy.

• Premenopausal females who have low oestrogen e.g. due to an eating disorder, can be prescribed either the contraceptive pill, i.e, an oestrogen and a progestogen, or HRT, that contains a different type of oestrogen and progestogen but ensure to tell them that it is not a contraceptive.

• Post-menopausal women who have an early menopause before age 45, if they still have a uterus, should be prescribed HRT consisting of oestrogen and progestogen, because otherwise it can increase the risk of cancer of the body of the uterus.

• Post-menopausal women who have an early menopause before age 45, If they have had their uterus removed they can go on oestrogen only.

Severe bone lossA T score of -3.0 or higher on a DXA scan report

• Avoid when possible, bending forward at your waist with legs straight

• Initially, no lifting anything over 3 pounds

• Put food items in a trolley and only half fill the bags

• Do not use a vacuum, stretch up for items, or twist your body to either side with your feet planted on the ground.

• No stretches or exercise that put stress on the bones in your back such as yoga.

• No lifting of children or pets in and out of a cot, car etc

• Raised garden beds are ideal for those who love gardening

Most people are not aware that fractures should be taken far more seriously, due to the secondary complications which can be life threatening, which are a blood clot, pneumonia or infection. 20% of those who fracture their hip aged 60+ will pass away within 6 to 12 months and 50% will lose their independence. Vertebral fractures significantly impact on activities of daily living, such as washing, dressing and walking.

A person can be diagnosed with Osteopenia and/or Osteoporosis. Osteopenia is the precursor to Osteoporosis, and it is essential that the reasons why a person has lost bone is investigated and addressed, not assumed.

NOTE A calcium and vitamin D supplement is not an Osteoporosis treatment. Calcium, vitamin D and first class proteins when ever possible should be from foods.

The diagnosis rate for Osteoporosis in men is very low and the IOS believe it is because of the myth that “Osteoporosis only affects old women”. 1 in 4 men over 50 will break a bone from Osteoporosis in their lifetime. More men pass away from Osteoporosis then get prostate cancer, which is why all men should be checking to see if they have risk factors for bone loss.

Appropriate weight bearing exercise is very important for those with bone loss, as well as improving muscle strength and balance. A very common stretch done by people is forward flexion which is shown in the image at the top of page 42 (figure 6). The IOS does not recommend this stretch for anyone other than athletes due to the damage it can inflict on a person. This stretch puts excess compression on the front of the body of the vertebrae and strain on the discs between the vertebrae. This stretch also puts excess strain on your sciatic nerve in your back, that if irritated will cause pain to go down your leg.

Written by Michele O’Brien, CEO, The Irish Osteoporosis Society