Health

Bone loss tied to diuretics for men

NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted May 5, 2008

Print  |   Email  |   Respond  |   Reprints  |   Like Facebook  |   Share Twitter  |   Tweet Linkedin

Older men who take loop diuretics, which are commonly prescribed for heart failure and hypertension, appear to be at higher risk for bone loss than men not on the medication, according to a study in the April 14 Archives of Internal Medicine.

Loop diuretics increase the amount of calcium excreted in urine, potentially damaging bones over the long term, according to the researchers.

Researchers compared the bone mineral density decline among 84 men who continuously used loop diuretics for an average of 4.6 years with 181 who used them intermittently and 3,004 who did not use them at all. After adjusting for related factors, the average annual rate of decline in total hip bone mineral density was -0.33% for nonusers, -0.58% for intermittent users and -0.78% among continuous users.

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/05/05/hlbf0505.htm.

Back to top


ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISE HERE


Featured
Read story

Confronting bias against obese patients

Medical educators are starting to raise awareness about how weight-related stigma can impair patient-physician communication and the treatment of obesity. Read story


Read story

Goodbye

American Medical News is ceasing publication after 55 years of serving physicians by keeping them informed of their rapidly changing profession. Read story


Read story

Policing medical practice employees after work

Doctors can try to regulate staff actions outside the office, but they must watch what they try to stamp out and how they do it. Read story


Read story

Diabetes prevention: Set on a course for lifestyle change

The YMCA's evidence-based program is helping prediabetic patients eat right, get active and lose weight. Read story


Read story

Medicaid's muddled preventive care picture

The health system reform law promises no-cost coverage of a lengthy list of screenings and other prevention services, but some beneficiaries still might miss out. Read story


Read story

How to get tax breaks for your medical practice

Federal, state and local governments offer doctors incentives because practices are recognized as economic engines. But physicians must know how and where to find them. Read story


Read story

Advance pay ACOs: A down payment on Medicare's future

Accountable care organizations that pay doctors up-front bring practice improvements, but it's unclear yet if program actuaries will see a return on investment. Read story


Read story

Physician liability: Your team, your legal risk

When health care team members drop the ball, it's often doctors who end up in court. How can physicians improve such care and avoid risks? Read story

  • Stay informed
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • LinkedIn