New hope for osteoporosis sufferers

A study showing that a new intravenous drug is highly effective and well tolerated over two years brings new hope for premenopausal women suffering from osteoporosis.

According to the manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies Roche and GlaxoSmithKline, the new drug (ibandronate) may offer an effective alternative for a select group of women with postmenopausal osteoporosis and who are unable to take oral bisphosphonates - non-hormonal drugs which are used to prevent and treat osteoporosis - for the condition.

In September the European Commission granted marketing authorisation for the unique once-monthly oral formulation of the drug.

According to a health interview survey, conducted between 2001 and 2002, 3.74 per cent of women in Malta suffer from osteoporosis and 0.85 per cent of men.

Mark Brincat, the chairman of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department, said osteoporosis is highly associated with menopause.

The good news is that studies show that osteoporosis in Malta is not as severe as in northern countries, probably because of the good weather that the country enjoys, he said.

Prof. Brincat explained that women start suffering from osteoporosis at various ages, sometimes even in their early 50s. The data from the survey shows that it affects 14.13 per cent of women over 75 years, with the incidence diminishing the younger women are.

He said peak bone density is achieved when a woman reaches the age of 30. After that it starts a slow decline which is accelerated after the age of 50. Exercise and the appropriate diet are imperative during the formative years.

Calcium intake and limited exposure to sunlight are also important to build bone density, he said.

A bone density unit was set up at St Luke's Hospital 15 years ago.