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GLOW 3-year results on osteoporosis risk and treatment



DOI:10.1038/bonekey.2014.127

The Global Longitudinal Study of Osteoporosis in Women (GLOW) is a large observational study of over 60 000 women aged 55 from 10 countries spanning three continents. This review summarizes the 3-year results.

The current focus remains on hip and spine fractures but these data show that the major FRAX sites of the hip, vertebrae, forearm and upper arm actually account for less than 40% of all fractures in this population. Nonhip and nonvertebral fractures are five times more common than hip and spine fractures combined and use twice the healthcare resources.

Comorbidities increased fracture risk, as expected but obesity, which is considered protective, increased the risk of lower leg and ankle fractures. Although sustaining a fracture can reduce quality of life more than other common health conditions such as type 2 diabetes and arthritis, treatment is not being optimized. Women at high risk are under treated while treatment in low-risk women may be too frequent.

Editor’s comment: The results of the GLOW study should inform clinicians of the reality of the impact of osteoporosis. By careful analysis of these results it should be possible to devise better risk assessment methods and more effective treatment protocols to both prevent fractures and to reduce the impact of fractures on quality of life.


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