Do we need to consider bone protection for patients on long term steroids fkr ad

Bone protection should be considered for patients receiving long-term corticosteroid therapy for adrenal insufficiency. This is because long-term use of systemic glucocorticoids is a recognized risk factor for secondary osteoporosis and fragility fractures. Assessment of fracture risk is recommended in people with current or frequent recent use of oral or systemic glucocorticoids, and appropriate bone protection strategies should be implemented based on this risk assessment.

Specifically, NICE guidelines on osteoporosis recommend considering fracture risk assessment in people using systemic glucocorticoids, as these drugs impair bone metabolism and increase fracture risk. Although the adrenal insufficiency guideline does not explicitly address bone protection, the known effects of glucocorticoids on bone health and the osteoporosis guideline’s recommendations imply that bone protection measures should be considered in this patient group.