Shifting bisphosphonate prescribing patterns for fracture prevention: a 24-year national surveillance of men in the U.S. Veterans Health Administration.

ABSTRACT: In the U.S's largest integrated health system, during a 24-year period (1999-2022), bisphosphonate treatment initiation for fracture prevention in men shifted towards higher-risk populations, including older men and those with prior fracture and frailty.

Purpose

To evaluate 24-year trends in bisphosphonate (BP) initiation among older U.S. male Veterans and shifts in demographic and clinical characteristics of BP-treated men over time.

Methods

U.S. national Veterans Health Administration (VHA) data (1999-2022) were queried to identify men aged ≥ 50 years with a first prescription for an FDA-approved BP for fracture prevention. Age, race, ethnicity, BP drug and route, prior fracture, and, in those aged ≥ 65 years, Veterans Affairs Frailty Index (VA-FI), were examined across fiv

SUBMITTER: Elam RE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12783237 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature