Is Osteoporosis Disease Management Cost Effective?

Abstract

Can osteoporosis disease management be cost effective? To answer that question, we conducted an extensive review of osteoporosis and fragility fracture prevention literature in peer-reviewed scientific journals and evidence-based guidelines from professional societies and government health organizations. We explored different strategies suggested by the literature to find how programs can be structured to be cost effective and to decrease fracture rates. We focused on ways to cost effectively identify, risk stratify, treat, and then track patients at risk for osteoporosis and fragility fractures. Studies have shown that osteoporosis management can decrease the hip fracture rate by 25% to 50% and be cost effective at the same time.