The Belgian Bone Club 2020 guidelines for the management of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women

Hospitalizations for hip and non-hip osteoporotic fractures in Belgium: nationwide trends between 2010 and 2021

This study aimed to describe the incidence of hospitalizations for osteoporotic fractures in patients aged 50 years and over in Belgium between 2010 and 2021. A declining trend in crude and age-adjusted hospitalization incidence was observed, however, the absolute number of hospitalisations for osteoporotic fractures increased due to demographic changes.

PURPOSE

The secular trends of hospitalizations for hip and other osteoporotic fractures between 2010 and 2021 in patients aged 50 years and over in Belgium are unknown. This study aimed to describe the incidence of hospitalizations for osteoporotic fractures in patients aged 50 years and over in Belgium between 2010 and 2021.

METHODS

Population-based, retrospective study based on hospitalization data extracted by the national database NIHDI and demographical data retrieved from the Belgian Federal Bureau for Statistics. Data were combined to determine the crude and age-standardized hospitalization incidence of fractures of the hip, distal femur, pelvis, humerus, wrist, and spine (2010 as the reference year).

RESULTS

A total of 445,234 hospitalizations for osteoporotic fractures were reported between 2010 and 2021 (excluding 2015). Hospitalizations increased by 5.8% between 2010 and 2021 (p = 0.013) with a higher increase in men (12.1%; p = 0.001) compared to women (4.1%; p = 0.041). The crude incidence of hospitalizations for all fractures per 100,000 persons per year decreased from 990 to 910 between 2010 and 2021 (p = 0.572). The age-standardized incidence for hospitalizations of any osteoporotic fracture in men declined from 5.30/1,000 to 4.42/1,000 (p = 0.010). In women, a similar decrease was observed (13.84/1,000 to 11.62/1,000; p = 0.003). Both age-standardized hospitalizations for hip and non-hip fractures showed a decrease in both sexes.

CONCLUSION

Although a declining trend in the crude incidence per 100,000 and in the age-adjusted incidence of hospitalizations for osteoporotic fractures was observed, the absolute number of hospitalizations for osteoporotic fractures increased due to the demographic change of an ageing population.

Cost-effectiveness of romosozumab for the treatment of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis at high risk of fracture in Belgium

This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of sequential treatment with romosozumab-to-alendronate compared to alendronate monotherapy and teriparatide-to-alendronate, in postmenopausal osteoporotic women from a Belgian healthcare perspective. Romosozumab-to-alendronate was found to be cost-effective compared to alendronate monotherapy and dominant compared to teriparatide-to-alendronate for osteoporotic women at high risk of fracture in Belgium.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of sequential treatment with romosozumab followed by alendronate compared to alendronate monotherapy and teriparatide followed by alendronate, in postmenopausal osteoporotic women at high risk of fracture, from a Belgian healthcare perspective. Romosozumab is reimbursed in Belgium since December 2021.

METHODS

A Markov microsimulation model was used to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of romosozumab-to-alendronate compared to alendronate monotherapy and to teriparatide-to-alendronate over a lifetime horizon. Patients transition between five different health states every 6 months based on fracture risks or death. The model was populated with Belgium-specific epidemiological and cost data, where available. The fracture risk reduction of romosozumab treatment was collated from the ARCH study, and from a published network meta-analysis. Costs were included from a healthcare perspective (NIHDI). Cost-effectiveness was reported in terms of costs per quality-adjusted life year (QALY), reported in Euro (€) 2022. Deterministic (DSA) and probabilistic sensitivity analyses (PSA) were performed.

RESULTS

Romosozumab-to-alendronate was associated with 0.12 additional QALYs at an additional cost of €2314 compared to alendronate monotherapy, resulting in an ICER of €19,978. Compared to teriparatide-to-alendronate, romosozumab-to-alendronate was found to be dominant, with higher QALYs and lower costs. The base-case results were robust to uncertainty in the input parameters when conducting the sensitivity analysis.

CONCLUSION

Sequential treatment with romosozumab followed by alendronate was found to be cost-effective compared to alendronate monotherapy and dominant compared to teriparatide followed by alendronate for postmenopausal women with osteoporosis at high risk of fracture in Belgium.

Risk analysis for subsequent fracture of osteoporotic fractures in Chinese women over age 60: a nationwide cross-sectional study

Prevention of subsequent fracture is a major public health challenge in the field of osteoporosis prevention and treatment, and older women are at high risk for osteoporotic fractures. This study aimed to examine factors associated with subsequent fracture in older Chinese women with osteoporosis. We collected data on 9212 older female patients with osteoporotic fractures from 580 medical institutions in 31 provinces of China. Higher odds of subsequent fractures were associated with age of 70-79 years (OR 1.218, 95% CI 1.049-1.414), age ≥ 80 (OR 1.455, 95% CI 1.222-1.732), index fracture site was vertebrae (OR 1.472, 95% CI 1.194-1.815) and hip (OR 1.286, 95% CI 1.041-1.590), index fracture caused by fall (OR 1.822, 95% CI 1.281-2.591), strain (OR 1.587, 95% CI 1.178-2.139), no inducement (OR 1.541, 95% CI 1.043-2.277), and assessed as high risk of fracture (OR 1.865, 95% CI 1.439-2.416), BMD T-score ≤ -2.5 (OR 1.725, 95% CI 1.440-2.067), history of surgery (OR 3.941, 95% CI 3.475-4.471) and trauma (OR 8.075, 95% CI 6.941-9.395). Low risk of fall (OR 0.681, 95% CI 0.513-0.904), use of anti-osteoporosis medication (AOM, OR 0.801, 95% CI 0.693-0.926), and women who had received fall prevention health education (OR 0.583, 95% CI 0.465-0.730) associated with lower risk. The areas under the curve of the prediction model was 0.818. The sensitivity was 67.0% and the specificity was 82.0%. The prediction model showed a good ability to predict the risk of subsequent fracture in older women with osteoporotic fractures and are suitable for early self-measurement which may benefit post-fracture management.

Vertebral fracture severity assessment on anteroposterior radiographs with a new semi-quantitative technique

We developed a new tool to assess the severity of osteoporotic vertebral fracture using radiographs of the spine. Our technique can be used in patient care by helping to stratify patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures into appropriate treatment pathways. It can also be used for research purposes.

PURPOSE

The aim of our study was to propose a semi-quantitative (SQ) grading scheme for osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF) on anteroposterior (AP) radiographs.

METHODS

On AP radiographs, the vertebrae are divided into right and left halves, which are graded (A) vertical rectangle, (B) square, (C) traverse rectangle, and (D) trapezoid; whole vertebrae are graded (E) transverse band or (F) bow-tie. Type A and B were compared with normal and Genant SQ grade 1 OVF, Type C and D with grade 2 OVF, and Type E and F with grade 3 OVF. Spine AP radiographs and lateral radiographs of 50 females were assessed by AP radiographs SQ grading. After training, an experienced board-certified radiologist and a radiology trainee assessed the 50 AP radiographs.

RESULTS

The height-to-width ratio of the half vertebrae varied 1.32-1.48. On lateral radiographs, 84 vertebrae of the 50 patients had OVFs (38 grade 1, 24 grade 2, and 22 grade 3). On AP radiographs, the radiologist correctly assigned 84.2%, 91.7%, and 77.2% and the trainee correctly assigned 68.4%, 79.2%, and 81.8% of grade 1, 2, and 3 OVFs, respectively. Compared with lateral radiographs, the radiologist had a weighted Kappa of 0.944 including normal vertebrae and 0.883 not including normal vertebrae, while the corresponding Kappa values for the trainee were 0.891 and 0.830, respectively.

CONCLUSION

We propose a new semi-quantitative grading system for vertebral fracture severity assessment on AP spine radiographs.

Development and validation of an eight-item calcium screener to assess daily calcium intake of patients with osteoporosis in clinical practice

OBJECTIVE

To validate a short food frequency questionnaire (screener) estimating daily average calcium intake from dietary sources to guide calcium supplementation of patients with osteoporosis in clinical practice.

METHODS

An eight-item calcium screener was developed based on existing literature, food consumption data and expert opinion. Convergent validity was determined by comparison with 3-day food records using mean difference, Spearman's correlation coefficients (SCC) and Bland-Altman analysis. Test-retest reliability was assessed by SCC and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). We calculated sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) to identify patients requiring calcium supplementation (<1200 mg dietary calcium intake/day).

RESULTS

Fifty-two patients filled out the eight-item calcium screener and the 3-day Food record (mean age of 66.8 ± 12.9 (SD)) and 38 patients filled out the screener twice for reliability analysis (mean age of 65.8 ± 12.8 (SD)). Dietary calcium intake between the calcium screener and food records showed a strong correlation (N = 52 patients, SCC = 0.53, p ≤ 0.001) and mean difference of 21 mg (p = 0.70). Bland-Altman analysis showed agreement within 95% confidence intervals for 49/52 comparisons (94%). Test-retest reliability of the calcium screener was excellent (SCC = 0.96, p ≤ 0.001; ICC = 0.99, p ≤ 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The calcium screener shows good convergent validity, reliability and feasibility to estimate daily calcium intake of patients with osteoporosis in routine clinical practice.

Towards a core outcome set (COS) for intrinsic capacity (IC) intervention studies in adults in midlife and beyond: a scoping review to identify frequently used outcomes and measurement tools

This scoping review was conducted to identify the outcomes and measurement tools used in IC intervention studies, as first step towards the development of a core outcome set (COS) for IC trials. PRISMA-ScR and COS-STAD were followed. The review considered randomized controlled trials targeting IC published in Medline, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and clinicaltrials.gov, until June 2023. Of 699 references, 534 studies were screened once duplicates were removed, 15 were assessed for eligibility, and 7 (4 articles and 3 protocols) met eligibility criteria. Twenty-eight outcomes were identified (19 related to IC and its domains and 9 unrelated). The most reported primary outcome was the change in IC levels postintervention (5 over 7 studies) and the most reported outcomes (either as primary and/or secondary) were the changes in physical performance and in depressive symptoms (6 over 7 studies). Fifty-five tools used to construct the domains' z-scores and/or assess the effect of interventions were identified (47 related to IC and its domains and 8 unrelated). The most reported tool was an IC Z-score, calculated by 4 domains' z-scores: locomotor, vitality, cognitive, and psychological (5 over 7 studies). The tools differed among studies (10 locomotor related, 6 vitality related, 16 cognitive related, 8 psychological related, 6 sensorial related, 8 unrelated tools). The vast heterogeneity (28 outcomes and 55 tools within 7 studies) highlighted the need of a COS. These outcomes and tools will be presented to experts in a future step, to select the ones that should be taken into consideration in IC trials.

Effect of traditional Chinese fitness exercises on bone mineral density in postmenopausal women: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

We aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of five traditional Chinese fitness exercises (Baduanjin, Taijiquan, Wuqinxi, Yijinjing, and Liuzijue), as well as their efficacy when combined with drug therapy, in the treatment of decreased bone mineral density in postmenopausal women.

Methods

This study strictly followed the evaluation guidelines of PRISMA and followed the "PICOS" principle outlined in the Cochrane Handbook. We performed a systematic search on Web of Science, Springer Link, Scopus, EMBASE, EBSCO, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang, CBMdisc, and the VIP Database, and we targeted RCTs studying the effect of TCE on BMD in postmenopausal women published prior to September 2023. The quality of the literature and the risk of bias of the included studies were assessed according to ROB2 and GRADE criteria, and data analysis was performed using Stata 14.

Results

A total of 33 RCTs (3658 post-menopausal women) were included. Network meta-analysis showed that Taiji (SMD=0.72, 95% CI: 0.22, 1.21, P<0.01) and Yijinjing (SMD=0.51, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.99, P<0.05) were significantly superior to conventional rehabilitation in lumbar BMD. In terms of improvement of femoral neck BMD, Baduanjin (SMD=1.63, 95% CI: -3.58, 6.85, P<0.001) and Taiji (SMD=0.46, 95% CI: 0.14, 0.79, P<0.05) had statistically different outcomes to conventional rehabilitation. Regarding Ward's triangle BMD, Taiji (SMD= 0.32, 95% CI: 0.14, 0.50, P< 0.05) had statistically different outcomes to conventional rehabilitation. The results of the SUCRA probability ranking showed that Baduanjin + drug interventions achieved the most significant improvement in lumbar BMD (SUCRA=83.6%) and femoral neck BMD (SUCRA=90.2%). Taiji + drug interventions most effectively improved Ward's triangle BMD (SUCRA=86.0%). In terms of traditional Chinese fitness exercises alone, Taiji was the most effective in improving lumbar BMD (SUCRA=64.4%) and Ward's triangle BMD (SUCRA=46.8%), and Baduanjin was the most effective in treating femoral neck BMD (SUCRA=89.9%).

Conclusion

Traditional Chinese fitness exercises can significantly improve the BMD levels of postmenopausal women. Taiji, Yijinjing, and Baduanjin combined with medication showed better intervention effects overall. However, due to the limitations of the number of studies and sample sizes of individual interventions, definitive conclusions need to be verified by more high-quality studies.

Skeletal response to teriparatide in real-life setting: effects of age, baseline bone density and prior denosumab use

OBJECTIVES

Teriparatide (TPD) is an osteoanabolic agent used in patients with high osteoporotic fracture risk. Predictors of therapeutic response to TPD in real-life setting are not well characterised. This study investigated the influence of previous antiresorptive therapy, age and other patient characteristics on the skeletal response to TPD.

METHODS

Retrospective study at the metabolic bone clinic, University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium. Patients with osteoporosis and a high fracture burden received TPD for 9-18 months. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured at baseline, 9 and 18 months at lumbar spine (LS), femoral neck (FN) and total hip (TH).

RESULTS

BMD at LS increased at 9 months (change mean (standard error) 6.8 % (0.7) p < 0.001) and at 18 months (8.0 % (0.9) p < 0.001), while BMD at FN and TH did not change significantly. Non-response in BMD change at the LS was seen with prior denosumab use (odds ratio 0.21, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.049-0.912, p = 0.037). Changes in BMD at TH were significantly greater in younger patients and in patients with a lower baseline BMD.

CONCLUSION

TPD-induced changes in BMD at TH might depend on age and baseline BMD and at LS on prior denosumab use. The results suggest that these factors may be relevant for clinical decision making when initiating TPD treatment, although larger studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Recommendations on deprescribing of bisphosphonates in osteoporosis guidelines: a systematic review

PURPOSE

Advancing age, declining health status, and a shift in benefit/risk balance warrant judicious use of preventive medications in older persons, including consideration of deprescribing. Lack of guidance on deprescribing is a major barrier for prescribers to consider deprescribing in daily practice. The aim of this review was to evaluate to what extent osteoporosis guidelines include bisphosphonate deprescribing recommendations.

METHODOLOGY

We conducted a systematic review, searching PubMed, Embase, and grey literature. We included guidelines on treatment of osteoporosis with bisphosphonates. Two independent reviewers screened titles, abstracts, and full texts. Recommendations for deprescribing were extracted, and quality of guidelines were assessed.

RESULTS

Among 9345 references, 42 guidelines were included. A total of 32 (76%) guidelines included deprescribing recommendations: 29 (69%) guidelines included non-specific deprescribing recommendations framed as a drug holiday, of which 2 (5%) also included specific deprescribing recommendations based on individual health context (e.g. life expectancy, frailty, function, preferences/goals). Twenty-four (57%) guidelines included practical deprescribing recommendations, and 27 (64%) guidelines included recommendations for when deprescribing should not be considered.

CONCLUSION

Bisphosphonate deprescribing recommendations in osteoporosis guidelines were primarily framed as drug holidays, with limited guidance on how to make individualized deprescribing decisions based on individual health context. This suggests a need for additional focus on deprescribing in osteoporosis guidelines.

Risk factors predicting the 'time to first fracture' and its association with imminent fractures: a substudy of the FRISBEE cohort

Only previous glucocorticoid use and rheumatoid arthritis were predictors of an early fracture (< 2 years after inclusion). A shorter 'time to first fracture' was not an independent clinical risk factor for imminent fractures.

PURPOSE

Risk factors for fragility fractures independent of BMD were assessed in several prediction models. However, predictors of a shorter 'time to first fracture' and its impact on imminent fractures are unknown.

METHODS

We studied the concept of 'time to first fracture' in the FRISBEE ("Fracture RIsk Brussels Epidemiological Enquiry") cohort (3560 postmenopausal women). Validated fractures were divided into 3 groups: first fracture < 2 years, 2-5 years, and > 5 years after inclusion. Factors associated with first fracture risk were evaluated with uni- and multivariate analyses using Cox modeling. We examined 'time to first fracture' as a risk factor for imminent fractures in untreated subjects and in those receiving pharmacological treatment.

RESULTS

Classical risk factors (age, prior fracture, fall history and low BMD) were associated with first fracture in all groups. Previous glucocorticoids and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were predictors for fracture < 2 years. Imminent fractures were similar in subjects with or without osteoporosis treatment, despite a higher estimated 10-year risk of fragility fracture in those treated, suggesting that treatment is efficient. 'Time to first fracture' was not an independent risk factor for imminent fractures.

CONCLUSION

Among the risk factors considered, previous glucocorticoid use and RA were predictors for early fracture, consistent with the concept of very high risk. The 'time to first validated fracture' was not an independent risk factor for imminent fractures. Patients with a first osteoporotic fracture should thus be considered at very high risk for re-fracture, independent of the 'time to first fracture'.

Sarcopenia, osteoporosis and frailty

Muscles and bones are intricately connected tissues displaying marked co-variation during development, growth, aging, and in many diseases. While the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis are well established in clinical practice, sarcopenia has only been classified internationally as a disease in 2016. Both conditions are associated with an increased risk of adverse health outcomes such as fractures, dysmobility and mortality. Rather than focusing on one dimension of bone or muscle mass or weakness, the concept of musculoskeletal frailty captures the overall loss of physiological reserves in the locomotor system with age. The term osteosarcopenia in particular refers to the double jeopardy of osteoporosis and sarcopenia. Muscle-bone interactions at the biomechanical, cellular, paracrine, endocrine, neuronal or nutritional level may contribute to the pathophysiology of osteosarcopenia. The paradigm wherein muscle force controls bone strength is increasingly facing competition from a model centering on the exchange of myokines, osteokines and adipokines. The most promising results have been obtained in preclinical models where common drug targets have been identified to treat these conditions simultaneously. In this narrative review, we critically summarize the current understanding of the definitions, epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of osteosarcopenia as part of an integrative approach to musculoskeletal frailty.

Synthesis and characterization of novel denosumab/magnesium-based metal organic frameworks nanocomposite prepared by ultrasonic route as drug delivery system for the treatment of osteoporosis

Introduction: The metal-organic frameworks (MOF) have shown fascinating possibilities in biomedical applications, and designing a drug delivery system (DDS) based on the MOF is important. This work aimed at developing a suitable DDS based on Denosumab-loaded Metal Organic Framework/Magnesium (DSB@MOF (Mg)) for attenuating osteoarthritis. Materials and Methods: The MOF (Mg) (Mg3(BPT)2(H2O)4) was synthesized using a sonochemical protocol. The efficiency of MOF (Mg) as a DDS was evaluated by loading and releasing DSB as a drug. In addition, the performance of MOF (Mg) was evaluated by releasing Mg ions for bone formation. The MOF (Mg) and DSB@MOF (Mg) cytotoxicity towards the MG63 cells were explored by MTT assay. Results: MOF (Mg) characterized by using XRD, SEM, EDX, TGA, and BET. Drug loading, and releasing experiments proved that DSB was loaded on the MOF (Mg) and approximately 72% DSB was released from it after 8 h. The characterization techniques showed that MOF (Mg) was successfully synthesized with good crystal structure and thermal stability. The result of BET showed that MOF (Mg) had high surface areas and pore volume. This is the reason why its 25.73% DSB was loaded in the subsequent drug-loading experiment. Drug release and ion release experiments indicated DSB@MOF (Mg) had a good controlled release of DSB and Mg ions in solution. Cytotoxicity assay confirmed that the optimum dose of it had excellent biocompatibility and could stimulate the proliferation of MG63 cells as time went on. Conclusion: Due to the high loading amount of DSB and releasing time, DSB@MOF (Mg) can be promising as a suitable candidate for relieving bone pain caused by osteoporosis, with ossification-reinforcing functions.

Selection for treatment of patients at high risk of fracture by the short versus long term prediction models - data from the Belgian FRISBEE cohort

Our imminent model was less sensitive but more selective than FRAX® in the choice of treatment to prevent imminent fractures. This new model decreased NNT by 30%, which could reduce the treatment costs. In the Belgian FRISBEE cohort, the effect of recency further decreased the selectivity of FRAX®.

PURPOSE

We analyzed the selection for treatment of patients at high risk of fracture by the Belgian FRISBEE imminent model and the FRAX® tool.

METHODS

We identified in the FRISBEE cohort subjects who sustained an incident MOF (mean age 76.5 ± 6.8 years). We calculated their estimated 10-year risk of fracture using FRAX® before and after adjustment for recency and the 2-year probability of fracture using the FRISBEE model.

RESULTS

After 6.8 years of follow-up, we validated 480 incident and 54 imminent MOFs. Of the subjects who had an imminent fracture, 94.0% had a fracture risk estimated above 20% by the FRAX® before correction for recency and 98.1% after adjustment, with a specificity of 20.2% and 5.9%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the FRISBEE model at 2 years were 72.2% and 55.4%, respectively, for a threshold of 10%. For these thresholds, 47.3% of the patients were identified at high risk in both models before the correction, and 17.2% of them had an imminent MOF. The adjustment for recency did not change this selection. Before the correction, 34.2% of patients were selected for treatment by FRAX® only, and 18.8% would have had an imminent MOF. This percentage increased to 47% after the adjustment for recency, but only 6% of those would suffer a MOF within 2 years.

CONCLUSION

In our Belgian FRISBEE cohort, the imminent model was less sensitive but more selective in the selection of subjects in whom an imminent fracture should be prevented, resulting in a lower NNT. The correction for recency in this elderly population further decreased the selectivity of FRAX®. These data should be validated in additional cohorts before using them in everyday practice.

Association between Malnutrition Assessed by the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition Criteria and Mortality in Older People: A Scoping Review

The Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria were introduced in 2018 for the diagnosis of malnutrition in adults. This review was aimed at gathering the evidence about the association between malnutrition according to the GLIM criteria and mortality in older people, an emerging and clinically meaningful topic in the implementation of the GLIM criteria in geriatric healthcare settings. This scoping review considered meta-analyses, systematic reviews, cohort studies, and cross-sectional studies published in PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Database for Systematic Reviews from the development of the GLIM criteria in 2018 to January 2023. Seventeen articles (15 cohort and 2 cross-sectional studies) were included. The association between GLIM criteria and mortality had been assessed in hospitalized (11 over the 17 articles) and community-dwelling older populations, and those in nursing homes. The review found a strong association between malnutrition according to GLIM criteria and mortality in hospitalized (1.2-fold to 7-fold higher mortality) and community-dwelling older people (1.6-fold to 4-fold higher mortality). These findings highlight the prognostic value of the GLIM criteria and support strategies towards the implementation of malnutrition evaluation according to the GLIM, in order to optimize comprehensive geriatric assessment and provide older people with the highest quality of nutritional care. Studies in nursing home populations were very scarce and may be urgently required.

Conversion of osteoporotic-like vertebral fracture severity score to osteoporosis T-score equivalent status: A framework study for older Chinese men

Objectives

To define what portion of older community men with what severity of radiographic osteoporotic-like vertebral fracture (OLVF) correspond to what low T-score status.

Methods

There were 755 community Chinese men (age: 76.4 ± 6.7 years) with thoracic and lumbar spine radiographs, and hip and lumbar spine bone mineral density measures. For each vertebra in a subject, a score of 0, -0.5, -1, -1.5, -2, -2.5, and -3 was assigned for no OLVF or OLVF of <20%, ≥ 20-25%, ≥ 2 5%-1/3, ≥ 1/3-40%, ≥ 40%-2/3, and ≥ 2/3 vertebral height loss, respectively. OLVFss was defined as the summed score of vertebrae T4 to L5. OLVFss and T-scores were ranked from the smallest to the largest values.

Results

OLVFss of -2, -2.5, -3, corresponded to a mean femoral neck T-score of -2.297 (range: -2.355∼-2.247), -2.494 (range: -2.637∼ -2.363), and -2.773 (range: -2.898∼-2.643), a mean hip T-score of-2.311 (range: -2.420∼-2.234), -2.572 (range: -2.708∼-2.432), -2.911 (range: -3.134∼-2.708), a mean lumbar spine T-score of -2.495 (range: -2.656∼-2.403), -2.931 (range: -3.255∼-2.664), and -3.369 (range: -3.525∼-3.258). The Pearson correlation value of OLVFss and T-score of femoral neck, hip and lumbar spine was r = 0.21, 0.26, and 0.22 (all P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

A single severe grade radiological OLVF (≥ 40% height loss) or OLVFss ≤ -2.5 suggest the subject is osteoporotic, and a single collapse grade (≥ 2/3 height loss) OLVF or OLVFss ≤ -3 meets osteoporosis diagnosis criterion. The results highlight the difficulty of diagnosing osteoporotic vertebral fractures among Chinese older men.

Pharmacologic Treatment of Primary Osteoporosis or Low Bone Mass to Prevent Fractures in Adults: A Living Clinical Guideline From the American College of Physicians

DESCRIPTION

This guideline updates the 2017 American College of Physicians (ACP) recommendations on pharmacologic treatment of primary osteoporosis or low bone mass to prevent fractures in adults.

METHODS

The ACP Clinical Guidelines Committee based these recommendations on an updated systematic review of evidence and graded them using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) system.

AUDIENCE AND PATIENT POPULATION

The audience for this guideline includes all clinicians. The patient population includes adults with primary osteoporosis or low bone mass.

RECOMMENDATION 1A

ACP recommends that clinicians use bisphosphonates for initial pharmacologic treatment to reduce the risk of fractures in postmenopausal females diagnosed with primary osteoporosis (strong recommendation; high-certainty evidence).

RECOMMENDATION 1B

ACP suggests that clinicians use bisphosphonates for initial pharmacologic treatment to reduce the risk of fractures in males diagnosed with primary osteoporosis (conditional recommendation; low-certainty evidence).

RECOMMENDATION 2A

ACP suggests that clinicians use the RANK ligand inhibitor (denosumab) as a second-line pharmacologic treatment to reduce the risk of fractures in postmenopausal females diagnosed with primary osteoporosis who have contraindications to or experience adverse effects of bisphosphonates (conditional recommendation; moderate-certainty evidence).

RECOMMENDATION 2B

ACP suggests that clinicians use the RANK ligand inhibitor (denosumab) as a second-line pharmacologic treatment to reduce the risk of fractures in males diagnosed with primary osteoporosis who have contraindications to or experience adverse effects of bisphosphonates (conditional recommendation; low-certainty evidence).

RECOMMENDATION 3

ACP suggests that clinicians use the sclerostin inhibitor (romosozumab, moderate-certainty evidence) or recombinant PTH (teriparatide, low-certainty evidence), followed by a bisphosphonate, to reduce the risk of fractures only in females with primary osteoporosis with very high risk of fracture (conditional recommendation).

RECOMMENDATION 4

ACP suggests that clinicians take an individualized approach regarding whether to start pharmacologic treatment with a bisphosphonate in females over the age of 65 with low bone mass (osteopenia) to reduce the risk of fractures (conditional recommendation; low-certainty evidence).

Conversion of osteoporotic vertebral fracture severity score to osteoporosis T-score equivalent status: a framework and a comparative study of Hong Kong Chinese and Rome Caucasian older women

We explored how the severity of radiological osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF) can be converted to the equivalent T-score values.

INTRODUCTION

To perform a study to define what portion of older community women with what severity of radiographic OVF correspond to what low T-score status.

METHODS

There were age-matched 301 Italian community women and 301 Chinese community women (sub-group A, age, 73.6 ± 6.1 years). In addition, Chinese sub-groups B and C included 110 community women (age, 68.9 ± 5.5 years) and 101 community women (age: 82.2 ± 4.3 years), respectively. For each vertebra in women, a score of 0, - 0.5, - 1, - 1.5, - 2, - 2.5, and - 3 was assigned for no OVF or OVF of < 20%, ≥ 20 ~ 25%, ≥ 25% ~ 1/3, ≥ 1/3 ~ 40%, ≥ 40%-2/3, and ≥ 2/3 vertebral height loss, respectively, OVFss was defined as the summed score of vertebrae T4 to L5. OVFss and T-scores were ranked from the smallest to the largest values.

RESULTS

For the Chinese total group (sub-groups A, B, and C together), OVFss = - 1 corresponded to lowest T-score (lowest T-score of lumbar spine, femoral neck, and total hip) of - 3.4 ~ - 3.2. OVFss ≤ - 1.5 corresponded to femoral neck T-score ≤ - 2.5. OVFss = -1.5 corresponded to a mean femoral neck T-score of - 3.0, - 2.6, and - 2.4, among Chinese sub-groups B, A, and C subjects, respectively. For Italians, all cases with OVFss ≤ - 1 had lowest T-score ≤ - 2.5. For cases with femoral neck T-score = - 2.5, 41.7% had OVFss = - 1.5, and 58.3% had OVFss = - 1.

CONCLUSION

For older women, statistically OVFss ≤ - 1 suggests this subject is osteoporotic according to lowest T-score. If using femoral neck T-score, OVFss ≤ - 1.5 qualifies osteoporosis diagnosis.

Sex hormones and immune system: Menopausal hormone therapy in the context of COVID-19 pandemic

The fatal outcomes of COVID-19 are related to the high reactivity of the innate wing of immunity. Estrogens could exert anti-inflammatory effects during SARS-CoV-2 infection at different stages: from increasing the antiviral resistance of individual cells to counteracting the pro-inflammatory cytokine production. A complex relationship between sex hormones and immune system implies that menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) has pleiotropic effects on immunity in peri- and postmenopausal patients. The definite immunological benefits of perimenopausal MHT confirm the important role of estrogens in regulation of immune functionalities. In this review, we attempt to explore how sex hormones and MHT affect immunological parameters of the organism at different level (in vitro, in vivo) and what mechanisms are involved in their protective response to the new coronavirus infection. The correlation of sex steroid levels with severity and lethality of the disease indicates the potential of using hormone therapy to modulate the immune response and increase the resilience to adverse outcomes. The overall success of MHT is based on decades of experience in clinical trials. According to the current standards, MHT should not be discontinued in COVID-19 with the exception of critical cases.

A software program for automated compressive vertebral fracture detection on elderly women's lateral chest radiograph: Ofeye 1.0

Background

Because osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF) on chest radiographs is commonly missed in radiological reports, we aimed to develop a software program which offers automated detection of compressive vertebral fracture (CVF) on lateral chest radiographs, and which emphasizes CVF detection specificity with a low false positivity rate.

Methods

For model training, we retrieved 3,991 spine radiograph cases and 1,979 chest radiograph cases from 16 sources, with among them in total 1,404 cases had OVF. For model testing, we retrieved 542 chest radiograph cases and 162 spine radiograph cases from four independent clinics, with among them 215 cases had OVF. All cases were female subjects, and except for 31 training data cases which were spine trauma cases, all the remaining cases were post-menopausal women. Image data included DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) format, hard film scanned PNG (Portable Network Graphics) format, DICOM exported PNG format, and PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) downloaded resolution reduced DICOM format. OVF classification included: minimal and mild grades with <20% or ≥20–25% vertebral height loss respectively, moderate grade with ≥25–40% vertebral height loss, severe grade with ≥40%–2/3 vertebral height loss, and collapsed grade with ≥2/3 vertebral height loss. The CVF detection base model was mainly composed of convolution layers that include convolution kernels of different sizes, pooling layers, up-sampling layers, feature merging layers, and residual modules. When the model loss function could not be further decreased with additional training, the model was considered to be optimal and termed ‘base-model 1.0’. A user-friendly interface was also developed, with the synthesized software termed ‘Ofeye 1.0’.

Results

Counting cases and with minimal and mild OVFs included, base-model 1.0 demonstrated a specificity of 97.1%, a sensitivity of 86%, and an accuracy of 93.9% for the 704 testing cases. In total, 33 OVFs in 30 cases had a false negative reading, which constituted a false negative rate of 14.0% (30/215) by counting all OVF cases. Eighteen OVFs in 15 cases had OVFs of ≥ moderate grades missed, which constituted a false negative rate of 7.0% (15/215, i.e., sensitivity 93%) if only counting cases with ≥ moderate grade OVFs missed. False positive reading was recorded in 13 vertebrae in 13 cases (one vertebra in each case), which constituted a false positivity rate of 2.7% (13/489). These vertebrae with false positivity labeling could be readily differentiated from a true OVF by a human reader. The software Ofeye 1.0 allows ‘batch processing’, for example, 100 radiographs can be processed in a single operation. This software can be integrated into hospital PACS, or installed in a standalone personal computer.

Conclusions

A user-friendly software program was developed for CVF detection on elderly women’s lateral chest radiographs. It has an overall low false positivity rate, and for moderate and severe CVFs an acceptably low false negativity rate. The integration of this software into radiological practice is expected to improve osteoporosis management for elderly women.

Overview of fracture liaison services in the UK and Europe: standards, model of care, funding, and challenges

Fragility fractures represent a growing global problem, including in the United Kingdom and European countries. Reports demonstrate the benefits of national guidance and organized fragility fracture programs through fracture liaison services to deliver care to patients who sustain these injuries. The challenge of assembling multidisciplinary teams, providing routine screening of appropriate patients, and monitoring therapies where there is a known compliance problem, remains an obstacle to the success of fragility fracture treatment programs to all. Efforts should continue to introduce and maintain fracture liaison services through coordinated national approaches and advanced systems.

Fragility Fractures in Postmenopausal Women: Development of 5-Year Prediction Models Using the FRISBEE Study

CONTEXT

Individualized fracture risk may help to select patients requiring a pharmacological treatment for osteoporosis. FRAX and the Garvan fracture risk calculators are the most used tools, although their external validation has shown significant differences in their risk prediction ability.

OBJECTIVE AND METHODS

Using data from the Fracture Risk Brussels Epidemiological Enquiry study, a cohort of 3560 postmenopausal women aged 60 to 85 years, we aimed to construct original 5-year fracture risk prediction models using validated clinical risk factors (CRFs). Three models of competing risk analysis were developed to predict major osteoporotic fractures (MOFs), all fractures, and central fractures (femoral neck, shoulder, clinical spine, pelvis, ribs, scapula, clavicle, sternum).

RESULTS

Age, a history of fracture, and hip or spine BMD were predictors common to the 3 models. Excessive alcohol intake and the presence of comorbidities were specific additional CRFs for MOFs, a history of fall for all fractures, and rheumatoid arthritis for central fractures. Our models predicted the fracture probability at 5 years with an acceptable accuracy (Brier scores ≤ 0.1) and had a good discrimination power (area under the receiver operating curve of 0.73 for MOFs and 0.72 for central fractures) when internally validated by bootstrap. Three simple nomograms, integrating significant CRFs and the mortality risk, were constructed for different fracture sites. In conclusion, we derived 3 models predicting fractures with an acceptable accuracy, particularly for MOFs and central fractures. The models are based on a limited number of CRFs, and we constructed nomograms for use in clinical practice.

Rebound-associated vertebral fractures after denosumab discontinuation in a lung cancer patient with bone metastases

Denosumab is a commonly used antiresorptive treatment in patients with osteoporosis or solid tumours with bone metastases. Upon denosumab discontinuation, a rebound phenomenon can occur that results in an increased (vertebral) fracture risk. This phenomenon is well-known in the setting of osteoporosis but rarely reported in cancer patients with bone metastases discontinuing denosumab. We present the case of a 43-year old women with lung cancer and bone metastases who suffered multiple vertebral fractures after discontinuation of denosumab.

Prediction of an Imminent Fracture After an Index Fracture - Models Derived From the Frisbee Cohort

Patients who sustain a fracture are at greatest risk of recurrent fracture during the next 2 years. We propose three models to identify subjects most at risk of an imminent fracture, according to fracture site (any fracture, major osteoporotic fracture [MOF] or central). They were constructed using data of the prospective Frisbee cohort, which includes 3560 postmenopausal women aged 60 to 85 years who were followed for at least 5 years. A total of 881 subjects had a first incident validated fragility fracture before December 2018. Among these, we validated 130 imminent fractures occurring within the next 2 years; 79 were MOFs, and 88 were central fractures. Clinical risk factors were re-evaluated at the time of the index fracture. Fine and Gray proportional hazard models were derived separately for each group of fractures. The following risk factors were significantly associated with the risk of any imminent fracture: total hip bone mineral density (BMD) (p < 0.001), a fall history (p < 0.001), and comorbidities (p = 0.03). Age (p = 0.05 and p = 0.03, respectively) and a central fracture as the index fracture (p = 0.04 and p = 0.005, respectively) were additional predictors of MOFs and central fractures. The three prediction models are presented as nomograms. The calibration curves and the Brier scores based on bootstrap resampling showed calibration scores of 0.089 for MOF, 0.094 for central fractures, and 0.132 for any fractures. The predictive accuracy of the models expressed as area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve (AUC) were 0.74 for central fractures, 0.72 for MOFs, and 0.66 for all fractures, respectively. These AUCs compare well with those of FRAX and Garvan to predict the 5- or 10-year fracture probability. In summary, five predictors (BMD, age, comorbidities, falls, and central fracture as the incident fracture) allow the calculation with a reasonable accuracy of the imminent risk of fracture at different sites (MOF, central fracture, and any fracture) after a recent sentinel fracture. © 2021 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).

Prevention and Treatment of Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis in Adults: Consensus Recommendations From the Belgian Bone Club

Glucocorticoids are effective immunomodulatory drugs used for many inflammatory disorders as well as in transplant recipients. However, both iatrogenic and endogenous glucocorticoid excess are also associated with several side effects including an increased risk of osteoporosis and fractures. Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) is a common secondary cause of osteoporosis in adults. Despite availability of clear evidence and international guidelines for the prevention of GIOP, a large treatment gap remains. In this narrative review, the Belgian Bone Club (BBC) updates its 2006 consensus recommendations for the prevention and treatment of GIOP in adults. The pathophysiology of GIOP is multifactorial. The BBC strongly advises non-pharmacological measures including physical exercise, smoking cessation and avoidance of alcohol abuse in all adults at risk for osteoporosis. Glucocorticoids are associated with impaired intestinal calcium absorption; the BBC therefore strongly recommend sufficient calcium intake and avoidance of vitamin D deficiency. We recommend assessment of fracture risk, taking age, sex, menopausal status, prior fractures, glucocorticoid dose, other clinical risk factors and bone mineral density into account. Placebo-controlled randomized controlled trials have demonstrated the efficacy of alendronate, risedronate, zoledronate, denosumab and teriparatide in GIOP. We suggest monitoring by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and vertebral fracture identification one year after glucocorticoid initiation. The trabecular bone score might be considered during DXA monitoring. Extended femur scans might be considered at the time of DXA imaging in glucocorticoid users on long-term (≥ 3 years) antiresorptive therapy. Bone turnover markers may be considered for monitoring treatment with anti-resorptive or osteoanabolic drugs in GIOP. Although the pathophysiology of solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation-induced osteoporosis extends beyond GIOP alone, the BBC recommends similar evaluation, prevention, treatment and follow-up principles in these patients. Efforts to close the treatment gap in GIOP and implement available effective fracture prevention strategies into clinical practice in primary, secondary and tertiary care are urgently needed.

Regulation of bone health through physical exercise: Mechanisms and types

Osteoporosis, characterized by bone mineral density reduction, bone mass loss, increased bone fragility, and propensity to fractures, is a common disease in older individuals and one of the most serious health problems worldwide. The imbalance between osteoblasts and osteoclasts results in the predominance of bone resorption and decreased bone formation. In recent years, it has been found that regular and proper exercise not only helps prevent the occurrence of osteoporosis but also adds benefits to osteoporosis therapy; accordingly, bone homeostasis is closely associated with mechanical stress and the intricate crosstalk between osteoblasts and osteoclasts. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms of exercise on osteoporosis and provide new proposals for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.

Which injected antiosteoporotic medication is worth paying for? A cost-effectiveness analysis of teriparatide, zoledronate, ibandronate, and denosumab for postmenopausal osteoporotic women in China

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of four injected antiosteoporotic medications including teriparatide, zoledronate, ibandronate, and denosumab for postmenopausal osteoporotic women in China.

METHODS

A Markov microsimulation model was used to compare the cost-effectiveness of the four drugs above in Chinese postmenopausal osteoporotic women with no fracture history of hip, vertebral, or wrist at various ages (65, 70, 75, and 80) of therapy initiation from the health care payer perspective.

RESULTS

Denosumab was dominant (ie, lower costs and greater quality-adjusted life-years [QALYs]) compared with other strategies at all ages studied. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) of zoledronate or ibandronate versus no treatment were $4,482.88/ QALYs or $11,378/QALYs, respectively, at age 65 years, and the results at other ages were similar. In contrast, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of teriparatide strategy compared with no treatment exceeded the pre-determined threshold of a willingness-to-pay of $31,512/QALY regardless of the adoption of the patient assistance program at all ages studied, and a threshold analysis showed that teriparatide without patient assistance program became cost-effective when the annual drug cost is decreased to $1,644.87 (current cost: $8,764.65). The cost-effectiveness decision did not change in most of the one-way sensitivity analyses. A scenario analysis considering no offset effect of denosumab showed that zoledronate had the potential to become the optimal option relative to denosumab. In probabilistic sensitivity analyses, the probabilities of denosumab being cost-effective compared with other strategies were 100% at a willingness-to-pay of $31,512/QALY.

CONCLUSIONS

Among postmenopausal osteoporotic women in China, denosumab therapy is cost-effective at all ages examined from the health care payer perspective, compared with teriparatide, zoledronate, or ibandronate. This study will help clinicians and policymakers make better decisions about the relative economic value of osteoporosis treatments in China.

Independent External Validation of FRAX and Garvan Fracture Risk Calculators: A Sub-Study of the FRISBEE Cohort

Probabilistic models including clinical risk factors with or without bone mineral density (BMD) have been developed to estimate the 5‐ or 10‐year absolute fracture risk. We investigated the performance of the FRAX and Garvan tools in a well‐characterized population‐based cohort of 3560 postmenopausal, volunteer women, aged 60 to 85 years at baseline, included in the Fracture Risk Brussels Epidemiological Enquiry (FRISBEE) cohort, during 5 years of follow‐up. Baseline data were used to calculate the estimated 10‐year risk of hip and major osteoporotic fractures (MOFs) for each participant using FRAX (Belgium). We computed the 5‐year risk according to the Garvan model with BMD. For calibration, the predicted risk of fracture was compared with fracture incidence across a large range of estimated fracture risks. The accuracy of the calculators to predict fractures was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC). The FRAX tool was well calibrated for hip fractures (slope 1.09, p < 0.001; intercept −0.001, p = 0.46), but it consistently underestimated the incidence of major osteoporotic fractures (MOFs) (slope 2.12, p < 0.001; intercept −0.02, p = 0.06). The Garvan tool was well calibrated for “any Garvan” fractures (slope 1.05, p < 0.001; intercept 0.01, p = 0.37) but largely overestimated the observed hip fracture rate (slope 0.32, p < 0.001; intercept 0.006, p = 0.05). The predictive value for hip fractures was better for FRAX (AUC: 0.841, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.795–0.887) than for Garvan (AUC: 0.769, 95% CI 0.702–0.836, p = 0.01). The Garvan AUC for “any Garvan” fractures was 0.721 (95% CI 0.693–0.749) and FRAX AUC for MOFs was 0.708 (95% CI 0.675–0.741). In conclusion, in our Belgian cohort, FRAX estimated quite well hip fractures but underestimated MOFs, while Garvan overestimated hip fracture risk but showed a good estimation of “any Garvan” fractures. Both models had a good discriminatory value for hip fractures but only a moderate discriminatory ability for MOFs or “any Garvan” fractures. © 2021 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

Diagnostic, treatment, and follow-up of osteoporosis-position statement of the Latin American Federation of Endocrinology

The Latin American Federation of Endocrinology position statement on osteoporosis was developed by endocrinologists from 9 countries. It encompasses the definition, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of the disease, the identification of barriers to healthcare, and proposals to improve the disease care in the region.

INTRODUCTION

There is a gap in the understanding of osteoporosis in Latin America. The objective of this work is to state the position of the Latin American Federation of Endocrinology on osteoporosis care in postmenopausal women to better bridge this gap.

METHODS

An experts' panel was formed comprising of 11 endocrinologists from 9 countries. A data search was conducted with a conceptual approach and data selection was based on the hierarchy of the EBHC pyramid. Unpublished data was considered for local epidemiological data and expert opinion for the identification of barriers to healthcare. An expert consensus based on the Delphi methodology was carried out. Experts were asked to respond on a 5-point Likert Scale to two provided answers to guiding questions.

RESULTS

Consensus was agreed on the answer for the questions with the higher median on the Likert scale and synthetized on 16 statements covering the definition of osteoporosis, diagnostic approach, treatment options, and follow-up. Besides clinical topics, unmet needs in osteoporosis were identified in relation to local epidemiological data, barriers to treatment, and misclassification of programs within health systems.

CONCLUSIONS

Through a process based on recognized methodological tools, FELAEN's position on osteoporosis was developed. This made it possible to state an optimum scenario for the care of the disease and helped to identify knowledge gaps. There is great variability in the approach to osteoporosis in Latin America and barriers in all the stages of healthcare persist.

Which treatment to prevent an imminent fracture?

Purpose

To provide a summarized state of the art of the relative efficacy and rapidity of action of pharmacological treatments to prevent imminent osteoporotic fractures.

Methods

We reviewed metanalyses (MA) and network metaanalyses (NMA) published during the last 10 years concerning the pharmacological treatment of osteoporosis. We compared the anti-fracture efficacy and the rapidity of action of various agents versus placebo and versus risedronate.

Results

All bisphosphonates decrease the incidence of vertebral fractures compared with placebo. Ibandronate is the only one without demonstrated efficacy against non-vertebral and hip fractures. Zoledronate, denosumab and anabolic therapy are associated with a higher fracture risk reduction than oral bisphosphonates. Compared with risedronate, which significantly reduces the rate of hip fractures, zoledronate, denosumab, teriparatide, abaloparatide and romosozumab are more efficient for vertebral fractures but not for non-vertebral or hip fractures reduction. No studies have compared bone anabolic treatments with zoledronate or denosumab. Oral bisphosphonates significantly reduce fracture risk only after more than one year of therapy. A faster reduction of fracture risk is observed with zoledronate and denosumab, or with anabolic agents. For denosumab and anabolic agents, a sequential treatment is required to keep gains after treatment withdrawal.

Conclusions

In patients at high risk of imminent fracture, starting therapy with potent antiresorptive agents or with an anabolic agent seems most appropriate to promptly reduce the fracture risk. Available NMA/MA suggest that, compared to zoledronate and denosumab, anabolic agents have a higher efficacy for vertebral fractures but head-to-head studies are lacking.

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The concept of imminent fracture has implications for the choice of therapy

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We reviewed metanalyses and network metaanalyses published in the last 10 years

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We compared the efficacy and rapidity of treatments to prevent imminent fractures

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Potent antiresorptive and anabolic agents are most appropriate to promptly reduce fracture risk

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Anabolic agents seem to be more efficient to reduce vertebral fracture risk

Improving osteoporotic vertebral deformity detection on chest frontal view radiograph by adjusted X-ray beam positioning

Purpose

In clinics, chest frontal view radiograph (CFR) is often taken for patients suspected of respiratory diseases and for assessing the heart and big vessels. CFR can be utilised to opportunistically detect osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF). However, for standard CFR, the site of highest OVF prevalence, i.e., the thoracolumbar junction, is usually 'off-centre' to the X-ray beam focus. This study tested the hypothesis that, if a CRF is taken with approximately two vertebrae lower than the standard X-ray beam positioning, the visualization of thoraco-lumbar junction can be much improved.

Materials

Four hospitals (A, B, C, D) provided 101 elderly women's digital CFRs with standard filming (28, 20, 24, and 21 cases respectively). Eighty four elderly female patients were prospectively recruited from hospitals-A and B, who were consecutive patients referred for chest radiograph with indications other than spine disorders. For theses prospective CFRs, the focus of X-ray beam was adjusted from towards vertebra T6 to towards T8, and standard lateral radiographs were obtained for reference. Visibility of spine and detectability of OVF were assessed on the CFRs. OVF was diagnosed based on chest lateral radiograph (CLR) after excluding other potential causes both radiographically and clinically.

Results

For standardly filmed CFR, spine readability was similar among those from Hospitals-A, B, and C, while performed less well for those from Hospital-D. With the prospective cases from Hospitals-A and B, spines readable to vertebra L1 level or lower increased from 48.2% for standard filming to 80.7% for adjusted filming. Spines with 'blurry' labelling decreased from 35.7% for standard filming to 15.7% for adjusted filming. For the 84 prospective cases, 42.9% (36/84) of the patients had OVF, and 26 cases of CLR positive cases were detected as having vertebral deformity on CFR. For minimal OVF cases (<20% height loss), 38% (5/13) were detected on CFR. Among 22 cases with apparent OVF (≥20% height loss), two cases were missed on CFR. False positivity was labelled in five cases, among them four cases had 'burry' spines.

Conclusion

CFR can help opportunistically detect OVF, which can be further improved if X-ray beam is adjusted to towards vertebra T8 instead of towards vertebra T6.

The translational potential of this article

This study confirms that CFR can help detect OVF opportunistically, and the visibility of the mid/lower thoracic spine and thoracolumbar junction can be much improved after minor adjustment of X-ray beam positioning. This study also suggests high positive rate of OVF in elderly Chinese female patients indicated for chest radiograph. Radiologists should be trained and sensitized in vertebral deformity identification on CFR as the clinical management can be improved by opportunistic detection of OVF.

Interpretation of osteoporotic vertebral deformity on frontal view radiographs of the chest and abdomen: a pictorial review

Osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF) has high prevalence in the elderly population. It affects at least one-fourth of all postmenopausal women and is commonly seen among women approximately one decade after menopause. A vertebral fracture, after minor trauma, is a hallmark of osteoporosis. Many fractures and associated complications, including secondary fractures and mortality, can be prevented by routine osteoporosis screening in older people and timely treatment initiation in at-risk individuals. Depending on the technical condition of the radiographs, a substantial portion of moderate to severe grades OVFs in mid-thoracic and lower thoracic spine as well as lumbar spine can be detected on a frontal view digital radiograph of the chest or abdomen. Radiologists should pay attention to the potential existence of an OVF while reading chest and abdominal radiographs of elderly female subjects. In this pictorial review, we describe our experience in evaluating the normal shaped and deformed vertebrae on chest and abdominal radiographs.

The role of radiography in the study of spinal disorders

Despite the growing use of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the study of spinal disorders, radiography still plays an important role in many conditions affecting the spine. However, the study and interpretation of spine radiograph is receiving less attention and radiologists are increasingly unfamiliar with the typical findings in normal and pathologic conditions of the spine. The aim of this article is to review the radiologic indications of radiograph in different pathologic conditions that affect the spine, including congenital, traumatic, degenerative, inflammatory, infectious and tumour disorders, as well as their main radiographic manifestations.