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  • Original Article
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Clinical Research

Bone complications among prostate cancer survivors: long-term follow-up from the prostate cancer outcomes study

Abstract

Background:

To assess the relationship between androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) exposure and self-reported bone complications among men in a population-based cohort of prostate cancer survivors followed for 15 years after diagnosis.

Methods:

The Prostate Cancer Outcomes Study enrolled 3533 patients diagnosed with prostate cancer between 1994 and 1995. This analysis included participants with non-metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis who completed 15-year follow-up surveys to report development of fracture, and use of bone-related medications. The relationship between ADT duration and bone complications was assessed using multivariable logistic regression models.

Results:

Among 961 surviving men, 157 (16.3%) received prolonged ADT (>1 year), 120 (12.5%) received short-term ADT (1 year) and 684 (71.2%) did not receive ADT. Men receiving prolonged ADT had higher odds of fracture (OR 2.5; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1–5.7), bone mineral density testing (OR 5.9; 95% CI: 3.0–12) and bone medication use (OR 4.3; 95% CI: 2.3–8.0) than untreated men. Men receiving short-term ADT reported rates of fracture similar to untreated men. Half of men treated with prolonged ADT reported bone medication use.

Conclusions:

In this population-based cohort study with long-term follow-up, prolonged ADT use was associated with substantial risks of fracture, whereas short-term use was not. This information should be considered when weighing the advantages and disadvantages of ADT in men with prostate cancer.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by support from the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, Grant No. R01-CA114524 and the following contracts from the each of the participating institutions: N01-PC-67007, N01-PC-67009, N01-PC-67010, N01-PC-67006, N01-PC-67005 and N01-PC-67000.

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Correspondence to A K Morgans.

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PCA has a compensated advisory role at Ferring Corporation. The other authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Morgans, A., Fan, KH., Koyama, T. et al. Bone complications among prostate cancer survivors: long-term follow-up from the prostate cancer outcomes study. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 17, 338–342 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/pcan.2014.31

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/pcan.2014.31

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