Seniors
taking antacids may be at higher risk of hip
fracture: research
NEW YORK: People over the age of 50 who use
anti-heartburn drugs for chronic acidity may be at a
greater risk of hip fracture, a new study has
suggested.
Prolonged use of antacids such as Prevacid,
Nexium, Aciphex and Protonix could make one's bones
brittle over time, raising the risk of a hip
fracture which can cause severe complications in the
elderly.
Researchers working for the University of
Pennsylvania School of Medicine, found patients who
used the 'over-the-counter' drug for more than a
year had a 44 percent greater risk of suffering a
broken hip compared to those who did not use such
drugs.
The group studied the medical records of nearly
150,000 Britons, 50yrs or older. Anti-heartburn,
medically known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs),
may not only be stopping the stomach's acid
production but also reducing the body's ability to
absorb calcium, the researchers speculate.
Doctors are usually not consulted for acidity unless
the problem is severe or chronic where the patient
has to use the drug in higher doses or for longer
periods. When consulted, GPs normally prescribe a
proven drug for a course of not more than 2 months.
The researchers also observed a 2 ˝ times greater
risk of hip fractures in patients who took high
doses of the drug for more than a year.
Lead researcher Dr Yu-Xiao Yang said people wrongly
assume “that the drugs are completely safe, and
doctors dispense them without thinking too much
about the risks and the benefits”. His said his
findings suggest that doctors should take care to
prescribe the drug only where it is most needed and
if possible recommend smaller doses.
The report published in the current issue of the
Journal of the American Medical Association also
urges for research to continue in this direction, to
be able to better understand the underlying process.
Many elderly people suffer from thinning of bone
density with advancing age. In such people, a hip
fracture can be difficult to heal or, worse, may
prove to be fatal. Previous research data said 20
percent of hip fracture patients die within a