Vertebral fractures, a major concern in premenopausal osteoporosis

A research featured in the journal "BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth" examined Pregnancy and lactation-associated osteoporosis (PLO) in premenopausal osteoporosis, focusing on clinical characteristics and evaluating treatment approaches.

Kyoko Kasahara and the team analyzed a large database of medical records in Japan which included 4,224,246 people. They focused on identifying women in the 18 to 47 age group who had a low-trauma fracture (referred to as the premenopausal group) and whose childbirth date was known. They classified fractures occurring around childbirth (5 months before till a year after childbirth) as PLO sites and studied their association with various factors, including medications, diseases, osteoporosis diagnosis, bone density tests, anti-osteoporosis treatments, and lactation inhibitors. Five hundred women with no fragility fractures were included in the control group.

In total, 231 women who had given birth were categorized into the premenopausal osteoporosis group. The most recurring type of fracture observed was vertebral, occurring most typically around childbirth, followed by distal radius and sacral fractures, which were less common during postpartum. Out of these fractures, such as vertebral, pelvic, and proximal femoral fractures at PLO sites, 56 women experienced 57 PLO fractures and were categorized as part of the PLO group. Factors such as ovulation disorders and advanced maternal age-related to the development of PLO. Vertebral fractures were typically diagnosed within a few months up to a year after childbirth.

Despite PLO patients with vertebral fractures receiving more medical interventions compared to those with other types of fractures, the treatment was still considered insufficient. Implementing more timely interventions for PLO could enhance the management of undiagnosed cases among premenopausal women, potentially reducing the risk of future fractures.