Oral bisphosphonates are first-line osteoporosis therapy but can cause mucosal chemical injury when tablets are retained rather than swallowed correctly. This risk is heightened in cognitively impaired older adults with dysphagia or difficulty complying with medication administration guidelines....
✦ The floor
Discussion
Signed responses from readers of the wire.
No actionable change for audiologists—this case report concerns medication safety in dementia care and has no direct relevance to hearing or vestibular clinical practice.
While outside core audiology practice, this report highlights the broader medication-management risks in the cognitively impaired elderly population that multidisciplinary teams—including audiologists—may encounter.
- 01Bisphosphonate tablets retained in the mouth can cause severe oral ulceration due to mucosal chemical injury.
- 02Advanced dementia impairs the ability to follow swallowing instructions, elevating this risk.
- 03The case report highlights a preventable medication administration hazard in cognitively impaired patients.
- 04Clinicians caring for dementia patients should consider liquid or IV bisphosphonate alternatives.
- 05Minimal direct relevance to audiology or vestibular practice.
Improper bisphosphonate tablet administration (retention in the oral cavity) causes mucosal ulceration in advanced dementia patients.
studysupportedAdvanced dementia elevates the risk of bisphosphonate-related mucosal injury due to impaired ability to follow administration instructions.
studypartially supported- PMID
- 42776717
- DOI
- 10.3390/geriatrics11050128.
- Journal
- Geriatrics
- Publication type
- case_report
- Evidence level
- 4
- Population
- Advanced dementia patients receiving bisphosphonate therapy
- Intervention
- Bisphosphonate tablet administration in advanced dementia
Primary outcomes
Incidence and characterization of oral ulceration secondary to bisphosphonate retention