1.1
This recommendation has been replaced by the recommendations in the NICE technology appraisal guidance on bisphosphonates for treating osteoporosis.
1 Recommendations
This guidance relates only to treatments for the primary prevention of fragility fractures in postmenopausal women who have osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is defined by a T-score of -2.5 standard deviations (SD) or below on dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanning (T-score relates to the measurement of bone mineral density [BMD] using central [hip and/or spine] DXA scanning, and is expressed as the number of SDs from peak BMD). However, the diagnosis may be assumed in women aged 75 years or older if the responsible clinician considers a DXA scan to be clinically inappropriate or unfeasible.
This guidance assumes that women who receive treatment have an adequate calcium intake and are vitamin D replete. Unless clinicians are confident that women who receive treatment meet these criteria, calcium and/or vitamin D supplementation should be considered.
This guidance does not cover the following:
The treatment of women who have sustained a clinically apparent osteoporotic fragility fracture (for recommendations for the treatment of women with a prior osteoporotic fragility fracture, see the accompanying NICE technology appraisal guidance on raloxifene and teriparatide for the secondary prevention of osteoporotic fragility fractures in postmenopausal women).
The use of raloxifene for the primary prevention of osteoporotic fragility fractures in women with normal bone mineral density (BMD) or osteopenia (that is, women with a T-score between -1 and -2.5 SD below peak BMD).
The use of this drug for the primary prevention of osteoporotic fragility fractures in women who are on long-term systemic corticosteroid treatment.
1.2
This recommendation has been replaced by the recommendations in the NICE technology appraisal guidance on bisphosphonates for treating osteoporosis.
1.3
The recommendation for strontium ranelate has been withdrawn because strontium ranelate is no longer marketed in the UK.
1.4
Raloxifene is not recommended as a treatment option for the primary prevention of osteoporotic fragility fractures in postmenopausal women.
1.5
For the purposes of this guidance, independent clinical risk factors for fracture are parental history of hip fracture, alcohol intake of 4 or more units per day, and rheumatoid arthritis.
1.6
This recommendation has been replaced by the recommendations in the NICE technology appraisal guidance on bisphosphonates for treating osteoporosis.
1.7
For the purposes of this guidance, intolerance of alendronate or risedronate is defined as persistent upper gastrointestinal disturbance that is sufficiently severe to warrant discontinuation of treatment, and that occurs even though the instructions for administration have been followed correctly.
1.8
For the purposes of this guidance, primary prevention refers to opportunistic identification, during visits to a healthcare professional for any reason, of postmenopausal women who are at risk of osteoporotic fragility fractures and who could benefit from drug treatment. It does not imply a dedicated screening programme.
1.9
Women who are currently receiving treatment, but for whom treatment would not have been recommended according to sections 1.1 to 1.4, should have the option to continue treatment until they and their clinicians consider it appropriate to stop.