Standards in the management of hip fracture patients are high, but more focus needs to be placed on the identification and treatment of
vertebral fracture patients and on the establishment of fracture databases.»
The effect of glucocorticoid treatment is most prominent on trabecular bone and is therefore likely to be larger on
vertebral bone than on hip bone.3 Glucocorticoids are associated with an increased rate of
fracture, and higher doses and longer use of glucocorticoids are associated with higher risks of
fracture.4 Compared with
patients not taking glucocorticoids, the risk of hip and
vertebral fracture among
patients taking glucocorticoids is increased by 60 % and 160 %, respectively.4 Among 80 - year - old
patients, the hip
fracture risk is increased by a magnitude of 2.1 and is independent of BMD.5 Most studies indicate that
fracture risk is increased following at least 3 months of treatment with daily doses of 5 mg of prednisolone or more in older men and women.4