Background: Vitamin K participates in bone metabolism and, since oral antic
oagulants antagonize vitamin K, their use may increase the risk of osteopor
osis.
Objective: To evaluate fracture risk at all skeletal sites following exposu
re to oral anticoagulants.
Methods: In a population-based retrospective cohort study, 572 Olmsted Coun
ty, Minnesota, women 35 years or older at their first lifetime venous throm
boembolism event between 1966 and 1990 were followed up for fractures. Risk
was assessed by comparing new fractures with the number expected from sex-
and age-specific fracture incidence rates for the general population (stan
dardized incidence ratio [SIR]).
Results: Altogether, 480 fractures occurred during 6314 person-years of fol
low-up. Increasing exposure to oral anticoagulation was associated with an
increased SIR for vertebral fractures: at less than 3 months of exposure, 2
.4 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.6-3.4); 3 to less than 12 months, 3.6 (
95% CI, 2.5-4.9); and 12 months or more, 5.3 (95% CI, 3.4-8.0); and for rib
fractures: at less than 3 months, 1.6 (95% CI, 0.9-2.7); 3 to less than 12
months, 1.6 (95% CI, 0.9-2.6); and 12 months or more, 3.4 (95% CI, 1.8-5.7
). The data revealed no increased risk for other types of fractures. Oral a
nticoagulation for 12 months or more was an independent predictor of verteb
ral fractures (P = .009) and rib fractures (P = .02), but not other fractur
es.
Conclusions: Long-term exposure to oral anticoagulation is associated with
an increased risk of vertebral and rib fractures. The mechanism by which th
is occurs is still unclear and needs further investigation.