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- Title
Use of alpha-blockers and the risk of hip/femur fractures.
- Authors
Souverein PC; Van Staa TP; Egberts ACG; De la Rosette JJM; Cooper C; Leufkens HGM; Souverein, P C; Van Staa, T P; Egberts, A C G; De la Rosette, J J M C H; Cooper, C; Leufkens, H G M
- Abstract
<bold>Objective: </bold>To study the association between use of alpha-blockers and risk of hip/femur fractures.<bold>Design: </bold>Population-based case-control study.<bold>Setting: </bold>General Practice Research Database.<bold>Subjects: </bold>Cases were defined as men, aged 40 years and older with a first diagnosis for hip/femur fracture. Controls were matched 1 : 1 on gender, year of birth and general practitioner-practice.<bold>Results: </bold>In all, 4571 cases and an equal number of controls were identified. Current use of alpha-blockers (prazosin, doxazosin, indoramin, terazosin, alfuzosin and tamsulosin) was compared with non-use of alpha-blockers. Current use of alpha-blockers on the index date was associated with an increased risk of hip/femur fracture [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.9, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1-3.0] in the overall analysis. The effect was particularly strong for first prescriptions within a treatment episode (adjusted OR 5.1, 95% CI: 1.0-31.7) and during the first month of treatment (adjusted OR 4.1, 95% CI: 0.7-23.9). Stratification according to indication of use showed that current use of alpha-blockers was not associated with hip/femur fracture in men with a diagnosis of benign prostatic hyperplasia (adjusted OR 1.0, 95% CI: 0.4-2.5), but was associated in men who used alpha-blockers for cardiovascular disease (adjusted OR 2.8, 95% CI: 1.4-5.4).<bold>Conclusion: </bold>Current use of alpha-blockers was associated with an increased risk of hip/femur fracture and with the start of a new treatment episode. The effect seemed to be confined to patients who used alpha-blockers for cardiovascular disease. Caution with respect to first-dose effects related to the initiation of a new episode of alpha-blocker treatment is advised.
- Publication
Journal of Internal Medicine, 2003, Vol 254, Issue 6, p548
- ISSN
0954-6820
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1365-2796.2003.01227.x