Doctors need only prescribe osteoporosis treatments to prevent fractures, as the medications do not reduce overall mortality in older patients with osteoporosis, according to an updated review.

There was no significant association between receiving a drug treatment for osteoporosis and overall mortality rate (risk ratio, 0.98), the US researchers report.

Their analysis included 38 randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trials that studied drug treatments with proven anti-fracture efficacy, used agents at the approved dose for treatment of osteoporosis and had a duration of at least one year.

Trials included more than 100,000 adults with osteoporosis, with 45,594 randomised to placebo and 56,048 to treatment.