Re: A History of Pivotal Advances in Clinical Research Into Bone and Mineral Diseases

Abstract

We were pleased to read and are delighted to acknowledge the Editorial of Cummings and Eastell (1) that reviewed the history of pivotal advances in clinical research into bone and mineral disease in connection with the 40th anniversary celebration of the ASBMR. The article provides a succinct review of several key epidemiological, technological, biochemical, and therapeutic advances that, overall, have signaled landmark achievements in our field.The importance of the combined effects of enhanced study design, analysis, and capability coupled with knowledge of how to apply different research methods to most appropriately address relevant research questions over the past 40 years cannot be overemphasized. (2-7) It was a daunting task to cover everything and, while the Editorial includes many issues, it omits several key points. These include references to key advances, such as the prevalence and importance of fractures in postmenopausal women relative to other diseases, (8) specific delineation of risk factors in postmenopausal women with and without prior fracture, (9-11) age-, sex-, and ethnicity-matched normative reference values for bone mineral density, (12) and the timing, location, and mechanism of fragility fractures among postmenopausal women in many countries. (13)