XML Feed for RxPG News   Add RxPG News Headlines to My Yahoo!   Javascript Syndication for RxPG News

Research Health World General
 
  Home
 
 Latest Research
 Cancer
 Psychiatry
 Genetics
 Surgery
 Aging
 Ophthalmology
 Gynaecology
 Neurosciences
 Pharmacology
 Cardiology
 Obstetrics
 Infectious Diseases
 Respiratory Medicine
 Pathology
 Endocrinology
 Immunology
 Nephrology
 Gastroenterology
 Biotechnology
 Radiology
 Dermatology
 Microbiology
 Haematology
 Dental
 ENT
 Environment
 Embryology
 Orthopedics
  Osteoporosis
  Osteomyelitis
 Metabolism
 Anaethesia
 Paediatrics
 Public Health
 Urology
 Musculoskeletal
 Clinical Trials
 Physiology
 Biochemistry
 Cytology
 Traumatology
 Rheumatology
 
 Medical News
 Health
 Opinion
 Healthcare
 Professionals
 Launch
 Awards & Prizes
 
 Careers
 Medical
 Nursing
 Dental
 
 Special Topics
 Euthanasia
 Ethics
 Evolution
 Odd Medical News
 Feature
 
 World News
 Tsunami
 Epidemics
 Climate
 Business
 
 India
Search

Last Updated: Nov 18, 2006 - 12:32:53 PM

Osteoporosis Channel
subscribe to Osteoporosis newsletter

Latest Research : Orthopedics : Osteoporosis

   DISCUSS   |   EMAIL   |   PRINT
Genetic Factors Influence Propensity To Bone Fractures In Elderly
Sep 13, 2005 - 1:51:00 PM, Reviewed by: Dr.

"The heritability of osteoporotic fractures is stronger than has been previously estimated, especially for early-occurring osteoporotic fractures. A search for genes and gene-environmental interactions that affect early osteoporotic fracture risk is likely to be fruitful, but fracture-prevention efforts at older ages should be focused on lifestyle habits."

 
The importance of genetic factors in an elderly individual's propensity to bone fractures depends on the individual's age and the type of fracture, according to a study in the September 12 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Bone fractures resulting from osteoporosis have a profound impact on quality of life, with only one third of patients regaining their pre-fracture level of function and a substantial risk of death following fracture, according to background information in the article. The authors suggest that twin studies provide one of the most natural study populations for evaluating genetic risk (the relative contribution of genes versus environment). If heritable factors contribute to fractures, monozygotic twins (who have all the same genes, commonly called identical twins) are more likely to have similar rates of fracture than dizygotic twins (who share about half the same genes, commonly called fraternal twins).

Karl Micha�lsson, M.D., Ph.D., of the Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden, and colleagues used the Swedish Twin Registry, the Swedish Inpatient Registry and telephone interviews to evaluate the genetic liability to fracture of the elderly. From the registry of Swedish twins born between 1,896 and 1,944 (3,724 identical twins, 6,314 fraternal same-sex twins and 5,736 fraternal different-sex twins), the researchers were able to identify 6,021 twins with any fracture, with a higher proportion among women (23 percent) than men (14 percent). More than half the cases (3,599) were classified as osteoporotic fractures. The most important osteoporotic fracture, hip fracture, was recorded for 1,055 twins.

Genetic variation in liability to fracture differed considerably by type of fracture and age, the authors report. Less than 20 percent of the overall age-adjusted fracture variance was explained by genetic variation. Heritability was considerably greater for first hip fracture before the age of 69 years and between 69 and 79 years than for hip fractures after 79 years of age.

"We conclude that the genetic influence on susceptibility to fractures is dependent on type of fracture and age at fracture event," the authors write. "The heritability of osteoporotic fractures is stronger than has been previously estimated, especially for early-occurring osteoporotic fractures. A search for genes and gene-environmental interactions that affect early osteoporotic fracture risk is likely to be fruitful, but fracture-prevention efforts at older ages should be focused on lifestyle habits."
 

- September 12 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine
 

Arch Intern Med. 2005;165:1825-1830

 
Subscribe to Osteoporosis Newsletter
E-mail Address:

 

This study was supported by grants from the Swedish Research Council, Stockholm; the National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, Md.; and Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.

Related Osteoporosis News

Modifying NFATc1 Triggers Bone Production
'Magic formula' accurately predicts fracture risk in osteoporotic women
Calcium supplements fail to prevent bone fractures in children
Estrens might not be the answer for osteoporosis
Increasing NFATc1 activity causes massive bone accumulation
Second-Hand Smoke, First-Hand Problem
Low carbohydrate diet did not increase bone loss
Growing body of research links lead to osteoporosis
GENOMOS: Weak Links found between COL1A1 Polymorphism, BMD, and Fracture Risk
Denosumab may show promise in the treatment of osteoporosis


For any corrections of factual information, to contact the editors or to send any medical news or health news press releases, use feedback form

Top of Page

 

© Copyright 2004 onwards by RxPG Medical Solutions Private Limited
Contact Us