Incidence and prevalence of medication-induced osteoporosis: evidence-based review

(1) While a number of medications have been shown to induce bone loss, the actual incidence and prevalence of medication-induced osteoporosis has not been well quantified. (2) Oral corticosteroids contribute to an increased prevalence of osteoporosis and an increased incidence of fracture in a number of different populations. The increased incidence of fracture in patients receiving inhaled corticosteroids for respiratory disease may be attributed to disease pathogenesis rather than the effects of medication. (3) Other therapies that increase the incidence and/or prevalence of medication induced osteoporosis and fracture include androgen-deprivation therapy, aromatase inhibitors, protease inhibitors, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and prolactin-raising antiepileptic agents. (4) It is difficult to make definitive conclusions on the actual increase in the prevalence and/or incidence of osteoporosis in patients receiving certain medications, as values are often reported differently and studies are mainly retrospective and are therefore open to inherent selection biases and other confounders. Furthermore, there is little available information as to whether specific medications within a class are associated with a higher rate of bone disease than others.