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β-blocker use and risk of fractures in men and women from the general population: the MONICA/KORA Augsburg cohort study

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Abstract

Summary

Use of β-blockers is associated with a reduced risk of fractures in middle-aged and older subjects from the general population.

Introduction

The present prospective population-based study investigated the association between use of β-blockers and incidence of any fracture.

Methods

The study was based on 1,793 persons 55 to 74 years of age who participated in one of the three MONICA Augsburg surveys between 1984 and 1995. Subjects were without any fracture at baseline. Incident fractures were assessed using a health questionnaire. Hazard ratios (HRs) were estimated from Cox proportional hazard models.

Results

During a mean follow-up of 10.7 years, there occurred 263 incident fractures. β-blocker users were older, were significantly more likely to be obese, to drink no alcohol, to have hypertension or diabetes, to use thiazides and statins, and to be physically inactive. The use of β-blockers was associated with a lower risk of any fracture (HR 0.57; 95% CI = 0.36–0.90) after adjustment for age, sex and survey. Further adjustment for body mass index and education years only slightly attenuated the relationship (HR 0.60; 95% CI = 0.38–0.95) and additional adjustment for a variety of further risk factors did not attenuate the association (HR 0.60; 95% CI = 0.37–0.96).

Conclusion

Use of β-blockers was associated with a reduced risk of fractures in middle-aged and older subjects from the general population.

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Acknowledgements

The KORA research platform and the MONICA Augsburg studies were initiated and financed by the GSF - National Research Center for Environment and Health, which is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Technology and by the State of Bavaria. Morbidity and Mortality follow-up in 2002/2003 was in addition supported by grants from the German Research Foundation (DFG) (TH 784/2-1). We thank all members of the GSF Institute of Epidemiology and the field staff in Augsburg who were involved in the planning and conduct of the study. Finally, we express our appreciation to all study participants.

Christa Meisinger had full access to all of the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Central Hospital of Augsburg, MONICA/KORA Myocardial Infarction Registry, Stenglinstrasse 2, 86156, Augsburg, Germany

    C. Meisinger & M. Heier

  2. GSF National Research Center for Environment and Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Neuherberg, Germany

    C. Meisinger, M. Heier, O. Lang & A. Döring

Authors
  1. C. Meisinger
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  2. M. Heier
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  3. O. Lang
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  4. A. Döring
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Correspondence to C. Meisinger.

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Meisinger, C., Heier, M., Lang, O. et al. β-blocker use and risk of fractures in men and women from the general population: the MONICA/KORA Augsburg cohort study. Osteoporos Int 18, 1189–1195 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-007-0354-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-007-0354-8

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