Results from the Ontario
Stroke Registry suggest that recent stroke survivors are not always screened
and treated for osteoporosis, which puts them at increased risk of fractures.
The study examined data from
more than 16,000 stroke survivors aged 65 years and older who either had
visited the emergency department or had been hospitalized for strokes between
2003 and 2013 in Ontario, Canada.
Only a very small number of
patients (5.1%) overall were screened for osteoporosis. One year after their
stroke, only 15.5% of them had been prescribed medications to prevent
fractures.
Female sex, pre-stroke
osteoporosis and post-stroke falls and fractures were associated with increased
rates of osteoporosis pharmacotherapy.
Stroke survivors are at high
risk of falls, which may lead to fractures. This risk is up to four times
greater than in healthy people. Hence, they should undergo screening bone
mineral density test to identify those at risk of fractures after stroke and
then be treated to prevent bone loss and fractures.
(Source: Stroke, April 25,
2019)
Dr KK Aggarwal
Padma Shri Awardee
President Elect Confederation of
Medical Associations in Asia and Oceania
(CMAAO)
Group Editor-in-Chief IJCP Publications
President Heart Care Foundation of
India
Past National President
IMA
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