Similarities and differences between European guidelines for the management of postmenopausal osteoporosis
Archives of Osteoporosis · 2024 · Europe
Source and licence
- Authors
- Bernard Cortet, Núria Guañabens, Maria Luisa Brandi et al.
- Title
- Similarities and differences between European guidelines for the management of postmenopausal osteoporosis
- Journal
- Archives of Osteoporosis, 2024
- Licence
- CC BY 4.0
- Changes
- Verbatim excerpts; formatting adapted
Full text retrieved 2026-10-27 from Europe PMC · PMC11377466
Licence statement of the original publication
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This page reproduces excerpts of the original publication; the original is authoritative. It has not been reviewed by a physician, does not state a recommendation of Medelix and does not replace medical advice. The guideline may have been updated since.
This is a review of another guideline (European guidelines for postmenopausal osteoporosis, European societies (DVO, ESCEO, NOGG ...) 2024). We do not reproduce that guideline's recommendations here – they belong to the original guideline.
Open the original publication →Full text on Europe PMC
Abstract
Summary: We conducted a review of 10 national guidelines from five EU countries to identify similarities or differences in recommendations for the management of patients with osteoporosis. We found general alignment of key recommendations; however, there are notable differences, largely attributed to country-specific approaches to risk assessment and reimbursement conditions.
Introduction: The classification of fracture risk is critical for informing treatment decisions for post-menopausal osteoporosis. The aim of this review was to summarise 10 national guidelines from five European countries, with a focus on identifying similarities or differences in recommendations for the management of patients with osteoporosis.
Methods: We summarised the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Disease-International Osteoporosis Foundation guidelines and reviewed guidelines from France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK.
Results: The approach to risk assessment differed across the guidelines. In France, and Spain, risk assessment was based on DXA scans and presence of prior fractures, whereas UK, German and Italian guidelines recommended use of a validated risk tool. These differences led to distinct definitions of very high and high-risk patients. Guidelines aligned in recommending antiresorptive and anabolic agents as pharmacologic options for the management of osteoporosis, with sequential treatment recommended. There was agreement that patients at high or very high risk of fracture or with severe osteoporosis should receive anabolic agents first, followed by antiresorptive drugs. Variations were identified in recommendations for follow up of patients on anti-osteoporosis therapies. Reimbursement conditions in each country were a key difference identified.
Conclusions: Criteria for risk assessment of fractures differ across European guidelines which may impact treatment and access to anabolic agents. Harmonisation across EU guidelines may help identify patients eligible for treatment and impact treatment uptake. However, country-specific reimbursement and prescribing processes may present a challenge to achieving a consistent approach across Europe.
Contents of the original publication
The section headings of the original.
- Introduction
- Current guidelines for osteoporosis management in Europe
- Materials and methods
- Fracture risk assessment
- Pharmacological interventions for osteoporosis
- Conclusions
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