Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis: pathogenesis and prevention

Abstract

Osteoporosis (OP) along with myocardial infarction, oncological diseases and expected death takes the lead in the general morbidity and mortality profile of population. The indicators of primary and general incidence of OP are markedly different in the regions of Russia according to the Healthcare Monitoring, Analysis and Strategic Development Department of the Central Research Institute of Organization and Informatization of Healthcare of the Ministry of Health of Russia and according to the data of epidemiological studies. Osteoporosis is classified as primary, if it develops in postmenopausal women or in older men in the absence of any underlying predisposing disease, and as secondary if there is a pathogenetic relationship with the disease or drug intake. The glucocorticoidinduced osteoporosis, which is distinguished in the International Classification System of Diseases and Death Causes (X revision) under code M 81.4 - drug-induced osteoporosis is the most common form of secondary osteoporosis. The topic of glucocorticoidinduced OP affects the professional fields of a significant number of medical specialties in connection with the common use of glucocorticosteroids in medicine. This article presents the issues of epidemiology, pathogenesis, complications of glucocorticoid-induced OP. Particular attention is paid to the prevention of this disease, including such non-pharmacological methods as a balanced diet, body weight gain to the recommended values, smoking cessation, regular exercise against weightlifting and resistance, protection against falls. Drug prophylaxis of glucocorticoid-induced OP is focused on the rational treatment to target of the underlying disease and the use of complex drugs containing vitamin D, calcium and synergistic osteotropic micronutrients.