TUESDAY, April 15 (HealthDay News) -- Loop diuretics, drugs
commonly prescribed to treat heart failure and hypertension,
increase the risk of hip bone loss in older men, says a U.S.
study.
Researchers evaluated 3,269 men, aged 65 and older, who
underwent an initial examination between 2000 and 2002, with a
follow-up visit an average of 4.6 years later. They collected
information about all the medications being taken by the men and
checked bone mineral density in the men's hips.
Among the men in the study, 84 continuously used loop diuretics
between the initial and follow-up examinations, 181 used the drugs
intermittently, and 3,004 never used them. After adjusting for
other factors, the researchers found that the average annual rate
of decline in total hip bone mineral density was -0.78 among
continuous users, -0.58 among intermittent users, and -0.33 among
non-users.
"Compared with rates of hip bone loss among non-users of
diuretics, adjusted rates of loss were about twofold greater among
intermittent loop diuretic users and about 2.5-fold greater among
continuous loop diuretic users," wrote Dr. Lionel S. Lim, of
Griffin Hospital in Derby, Conn., and his colleagues.
"We conclude that loop diuretic use in older men is associated
with increased rates of hip bone loss," wrote the authors, who said
future research should examine the underlying mechanisms of this
bone loss.
"Our findings suggest that health care providers should take
into account loop diuretic use when evaluating older men for risk
factors for bone loss and fracture risk," they said.
The study was published in the April 14 issue of the
Archives of Internal Medicine.
The researchers noted that loop diuretics are one of the most
commonly prescribed medications among older adults. These drugs
increase the amount of calcium excreted in urine, and long-term use
may harm bones. Previous observational studies have found an
association between the use of loop diuretics and increased risk of
fractures.
But the researchers said there's been "uncertainty as to whether
this increased fracture risk is attributable to negative effects on
bone mineral density, fall-related mechanisms (e.g., dizziness and
orthostatis [low blood pressure when standing up]), or associated
comorbidities (co-occurring illnesses)."
More information
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has more about
diuretics and other drugs used to treat
hypertension.
