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Majority Of American Women Unaware Of Most Common Osteoporosis Fracture Site LOS ANGELES, CA -- Dec. 4, 1998 -- A just-released U.S.-wide survey found that American women severely underestimate the chances of experiencing a spinal fracture resulting from osteoporosis. A full 92 percent of women are unaware that the most common osteoporotic fracture is a compression fracture of the spine. Older women -- those most likely to have the bone-thinning disease -- are no more likely than younger women to be aware of this fact. What's more, one-third of women do not know that fracture of the spine is even a possible consequence of osteoporosis. The survey was conducted for UCLA Osteoporosis Center by Opinion Research Corporation International. Spinal fractures (compressed vertebrae) are the most common osteoporotic-related fractures, with more than 700,000 such fractures occurring in the United States each year, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF). Loss of height and stooped posture are irreversible changes that result from spinal fractures. "These survey results are alarming," said Stuart Silverman, MD, professor of medicine and rheumatology, UCLA School of Medicine. "Most women will be affected by osteoporosis at some time in their lives, but these results make it apparent that they are not well informed of the most common danger – and being informed is the first step toward taking action." The good news is that the final results of a five-year study show that Novartis Pharmaceutical Corp.’s Miacalcin Nasal Spray, a calcitonin-salmon nasal spray (one spray of 200 IUs per day), prevents spinal fractures. The data show that calcitonin-salmon nasal spray: -- Reduces the rate of new spinal fractures by 36 percent in postmenopausal women with established osteoporosis, who have experienced at least one previous spinal fracture. -- Results in a 39 percent reduction in spinal deterioration. -- Reduces the rate of multiple spinal fractures by 45 percent. -- Demonstrated effectiveness in the prevention of new spinal fractures throughout the five years of the study. There was no increase in side effects overall compared with placebo. Conducted at 47 clinical sites in the United States and the United Kingdom, the study, known as PROOF (Prevent Recurrence of Osteoporotic Fractures), included 1,255 women who had already experienced at least one osteoporosis-related spinal fracture. All participants took supplemental calcium and vitamin D. UCLA’s Dr. Silverman presented the results today at the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research in San Francisco. "The PROOF study shows that calcitonin-salmon is an effective, safe medication for preventing spinal fractures and that this effect is prolonged over the long term," Dr. Silverman said. "Awareness of spinal fractures – and of osteoporosis in general – needs to be raised so that women discuss it with their physicians and take appropriate action," he added. Calcitonin-salmon is currently approved for treatment of osteoporosis in women who are more than five years past menopause and for whom estrogen replacement therapy is not an option. Calcitonin-salmon nasal spray should be taken with adequate calcium and vitamin D. Clinical trials have shown that the overall incidence of side effects from calcitonin-salmon are comparable to placebo. Most commonly reported side effects are nasal irritation such as runny nose, crusting and nosebleed, back and/or joint pain and headache. Because calcitonin is a protein, the possibility of a systemic allergic reaction exists. Osteoporosis affects some 23 million women in the United States and may affect one in every two women over a lifetime, according to the NOF. Even so, the UCLA survey found that: -- Only 28 percent of women understand that among osteoporosis, breast cancer, heart disease, ovarian cancer and Alzheimer's disease, women over age 50 are most likely to get osteoporosis. -- Nearly one-half of all women (46 percent) say they know only a little or nothing at all about osteoporosis. -- 39 percent of women over age 45 never discuss osteoporosis with their doctor -- even though they are at an increased risk for the disease. The survey questioned a nationally representative sample of 514 adult women by telephone Nov. 5 to 8, 1998. The survey has a margin of error of +/- four percent. E-mail this page to a friend or colleague! To print, use this version