Letters
Musculoskeletal diseases
Volume 177 - Issue 3

Preventing osteoporosis: outcomes of the Australian Fracture Prevention Summit

Authors:  Roy PL Carey, Walter E Plehwe and Peter R Ebeling

Med J Aust 2002; 177 (3): 167. || doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2002.tb04717.x
Published online: 5 August 2002
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To the Editor: We were interested to read the recent supplement on preventing osteoporosis.1 We could find only one reference to cigarette smoking, on page S13, where it is noted that "the role of lifestyle changes (including specific exercise regimens, changes in diet and quitting smoking) has not been evaluated adequately".

The orthopaedic literature is replete with information and evidence on the adverse effects of cigarette smoking on bone density, healing of fractures, incorporation of bone grafts, etc. A meta-analysis2 has suggested that smokers have greater bone loss over time than non-smokers.

Granted, there may as yet be no direct evidence that quitting smoking reduces "the fracture burden". However, to discuss osteoporosis and management of fractures without discussing the major adverse effects of cigarette smoking is akin to discussing the prevention of melanoma and the outcomes of treatment without discussing unprotected exposure to sunlight (for example).

Could the "writing group" tell us what steps are being taken to inform Australians of the adverse effects of cigarette smoking on their bones, quite apart from the other public health issues surrounding this extraordinarily harmful habit?

Authors

  • Roy PL Carey
  • Walter E Plehwe
  • Peter R Ebeling

Correspondence: rcarey@kew.hotkey.net.au

References

View this article on Wiley Online Library