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Background Patients with hypoparathyroidism are at risk of both hypocalcemic and hypercalcemic crisis. Patients report that health professionals do not always respond adequately in an acute situation. The extent and handling of severe hypo- and hypercalcemia in hypoparathyroidism is unknown. Aims To outline the need for a medical emergency card for primary hypoparathyroidism. Method Postal survey amongst Norwegian and Swedish patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism of all causes. Altogether 455 invitations were sent (333 from Norway and 122 from Sweden). Results Three hundred and thirty-six of 455 (74%) patients responded (253 from Norway and 83 from Sweden). The majority were women (79%), and the main cause was postsurgical hypoparathyroidism (66%). Overall 44% and 16% had been hospitalized at least once for hypo- or hypercalcemia, respectively. Eighty-seven per cent felt that an emergency card would be highly needed or useful. Amongst those hospitalized for hypocalcemia, 95% felt a card was needed compared to 90% amongst those hospitalized for hypercalcemia. Five per cent believed that a card would not be useful. Conclusions The majority answered that an acute card is highly needed or useful. Hospitalization for acute hypocalcemia was more common (44%) than for acute hypercalcemia (16%). As a result of this survey, an emergency card will be distributed in three European countries to test its utility.

Objectives: The results of studies of bone mineral density (BMD) in Addison's disease (AD) are inconsistent. There are no published data on hip fracture risk in patients with AD. In this study we compare hip fracture risk in adults with and without AD. Design: A population-based cohort study. Methods: Through the Swedish National Patient Register and the Total Population Register, we identified 3,219 patients without prior hip fracture who were diagnosed with AD at the age of ≥30 years during the period 1964-2006, and 31,557 age- and sex-matched controls. Time to hip fracture was measured. Results: We observed 221 hip fractures (6.9%) in patients with AD and 846 (2.7%) in the controls. Patients with AD had a higher risk of hip fracture (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.8; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.6-2.1; p < 0.001). This risk increase was independent of sex and age at or calendar period of diagnosis. Risk estimates did not change with adjustment for type 1 diabetes, autoimmune thyroid disease, rheumatoid arthritis or coeliac disease. Women diagnosed with AD ≤50 years old had the highest risk of hip fracture (HR = 2.7; 95% CI, 1.6-4.5). We found a positive association between hip fracture and undiagnosed AD (odds ratio (OR) = 2.4; 95% CI, 2.1- 3.0) with the highest risk estimates in the last year before AD diagnosis (OR = 2.8; 95% CI, 1.8-4.2). Conclusion: Both clinically undiagnosed and diagnosed AD were associated with hip fractures, with the highest relative risk seen in women diagnosed with AD ≤50 years of age.

Objectives: The results of studies of bone mineral density (BMD) in Addison's disease (AD) are inconsistent. There are no published data on hip fracture risk in patients with AD. In this study we compare hip fracture risk in adults with and without AD. Design: A population-based cohort study. Methods: Through the Swedish National Patient Register and the Total Population Register, we identified 3,219 patients without prior hip fracture who were diagnosed with AD at the age of ≥30 years during the period 1964-2006, and 31,557 age- and sex-matched controls. Time to hip fracture was measured. Results: We observed 221 hip fractures (6.9%) in patients with AD and 846 (2.7%) in the controls. Patients with AD had a higher risk of hip fracture (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.8; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.6-2.1; p < 0.001). This risk increase was independent of sex and age at or calendar period of diagnosis. Risk estimates did not change with adjustment for type 1 diabetes, autoimmune thyroid disease, rheumatoid arthritis or coeliac disease. Women diagnosed with AD ≤50 years old had the highest risk of hip fracture (HR = 2.7; 95% CI, 1.6-4.5). We found a positive association between hip fracture and undiagnosed AD (odds ratio (OR) = 2.4; 95% CI, 2.1- 3.0) with the highest risk estimates in the last year before AD diagnosis (OR = 2.8; 95% CI, 1.8-4.2). Conclusion: Both clinically undiagnosed and diagnosed AD were associated with hip fractures, with the highest relative risk seen in women diagnosed with AD ≤50 years of age.