The Obama administration has called for national action on antibiotics.

Taking one type of osteoporosis drug can significantly cut the risk of premature mortality — across all causes, not just those related to fragile bone fractures — study findings show. 

A Canadian Institutes of Health Research study of 6,120 participants who took bisphosphonate osteoporosis medications following a related fracture saw 34% lower mortality risk than those who went untreated. Those who took non-nitrogen bisphosphonate osteoporosis medication saw no reduction in mortality risks.

Unfortunately, many patients fail to take the drugs following a fracture, especially men who mistakenly assume osteoporosis is a female condition. Although osteoporosis affects one in four US women older than age 65 and one in two women older than 80 years, men also experience osteroporotic fractures. 

Researchers hope the study findings will improve compliance in those who are prescribed bisphosphonate medications.

“Osteoporotic fractures are not benign. Osteoporosis medication not only decreases the risk of further fractures, but it appears that this same medication also decreases mortality rates over the subsequent 15 years,” said lead researcher Jacqueline Center, M.D., Ph.D., an endocrinologist who runs the Clinical Studies and Epidemiology laboratory at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research in Australia.