We studied the effects of stopping treatments of osteoporosis.
36 osteoporosis patients were divided two groups. Group A (9 patients) did not receive treatments after receiving treatment for a few years, and group B (27 patients) continued treatments during the follow-up period.
The average age of group A was 71.5 years and group B was 75.9 years at the start of treatment.
The average change in heights for three years was -4.4cm in group A and -2.2cm in group B. The average BMD change rate for three years was -4.7% in group A and +0.8% in group B. The patients in group B showed reduced new lumbar spine fractures, as compared with group A (118 v. s 278 fractures per 1000 persons-years).
It is thus important to continue treatment for osteoporosis.
