Half of women with thinning bones 'are left untreated'

Hundreds of thousands of women at high risk of broken hips are not getting preventive drugs, says a new study.

GPs are failing to treat one in two patients who have been officially diagnosed with thinning bones, despite the life-threatening consequences of suffering a major fracture.

The research released today comes as osteoporosis campaigners are stepping up opposition to NHS guidelines that would ration preventive treatment to just one cheap drug.

But around one in four women needing bone protection cannot take the drug alendronate because of crippling stomach side effects.

Osteoporosis is known as the silent epidemic because there are often no symptoms before a victim breaks a bone.

Almost one in two women and one in five men over the age of 50 will break a bone, with many hip fractures ending in premature death.

The latest study being released today at the British Pharmaceutical Conference (BPC) in Manchester shows even patients found to be at risk are not getting help.

An audit of 12,500 records on patients in North Tyneside identified 128 patients at risk of future fractures based on previous broken bones, or the use of DEXA scanning to pick up thinning bones.

Of these patients, 113 were officially diagnosed with osteoporosis yet only half (67 patients) were receiving currently recommended treatment with bone protecting bisphosphionate drugs, calcium and vitamin D.

Those aged below 74 and at risk should have treatment based on the results of a bone scan, but the study showed this occurred in only a quarter of all cases.

Researcher Wasim Baqir, the lead pharmacist for Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust, said 'It's very important that people who are at risk of falling and fracturing bones receive appropriate bone protection treatment.

'Pharmacists have a key role to play in helping patients understand the importance of why they are prescribed these preventative medicines, and what the consequences can be if they don't take them.'

However, campaigners say guidelines drawn up by the Government's 'rationing' body, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), are too restrictive on testing for patients at risk and the treatment they are entitled to.

NICE plans to recommend the use of just one mandatory treatment alendronate, which is the cheapest treatment available at around £5 a month.

But NICE has refused to approve any alternative drugs on the NHS for one in four patients who cannot tolerate the drug or do not respond to it. Such drugs can cost about £17 a month.

An appeal against the guidelines from the National Osteoporosis Society, to be heard next month, says the drug restrictions would leave hundreds of thousands of patients untreated.

The charity is planning to petition the Prime Minister about the proposals, due to be confirmed next month, which will also limit treatment mostly to people over 70.

Nick Rijke, NOS public and external affairs director, said 'The evidence is now overwhelming that vast numbers of women are not getting the treatment they need for osteoporosis.

'In recommending only one drug, NICE are standing in the way of medical progress.

'People have a reasonable expectation that they should have access to the drug that is most beneficial to them and which causes them least side effects.

The NICE decision prevents this. Having such a hard age cut off is also very unhelpful.

Although age related, osteoporosis does not suddenly hit people on their 70th birthday.

'Many thousands of women are going through the pain and suffering of broken bones unnecessarily.

'It is simply unacceptable that so few women get any treatment at all and that even those who are given prescriptions are so often denied drugs that suit them.'

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