Osteoporosis Medication Use Research Articles

Patterns of treatment among a cohort of older low-income adults starting new medications for osteoporosis.

Among 125,954 new users of osteoporosis (OP) medications, 77% of subjects stopped OP medications, and 23% of subjects added or started a new OP medication during follow-up, with the first addition or start of a new OP medication occurring in a mean of 739days after original OP treatment. We described patterns and predictors of OP medication use, focusing on treatment changes over time. We analyzed health and pharmacy insurance claims for a large cohort of low-income Medicare beneficiaries with a drug benefit for the years 1998-2008. Study subjects had documented Medicare claims and no receipt of OP medications (i.e., bisphosphonate, raloxifene, calcitonin, teriparatide, or hormonal therapy) during a baseline of 180days. Subjects were then required to start an OP medication. Baseline patient and prescriber characteristics were assessed in multivariable Cox regression models to identify correlates of adding or starting a new OP medication. Fractures, bone mineral density testing, and visits with endocrinologists or rheumatologists occurring after baseline were also examined as correlates. We included 125,954 new users of OP medications with a mean age of 78years, 97% female, and 92% white. OP medication prescribers included specialists (i.e., endocrinologists or rheumatologists) (6.2%), orthopedic surgeons (1.0%), primary care providers (64.9%), other physicians (3.7%), and missing (24.1%). Seventy-seven percent of subjects stopped OP medications, and 23% of subjects added or started a new OP medication during follow-up, with the first addition or start of a new OP medication occurring in a mean of 739days after original OP treatment; 4% added or started a new OP medication more than once. In fully adjusted models, many baseline variables correlated with starting a second OP medication. Post-baseline fractures [hazard ratio (HR) 1.76, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.71-1.82] and bone mineral density testing (HR 2.94, 95% CI 2.86-3.03) were strong predictors. Approximately one quarter of patients starting an OP medication added or started a new OP medication during follow-up. Long-term sequential treatment strategy trials would inform optimal medication treatment for OP.

Secular Trends in Hip Fractures Worldwide: Opposing Trends East Versus West

Despite wide variations in hip rates fractures worldwide, reasons for such differences are not clear. Furthermore, secular trends in the age-specific hip fracture rates are changing the world map of this devastating disease, with the highest rise projected to occur in developing countries. The aim of our investigation is to systematically characterize secular trends in hip fractures worldwide, examine new data for various ethnic groups in the United States, evidence for divergent temporal patterns, and investigate potential contributing factors for the observed change in their epidemiology. All studies retrieved through a complex Medline Ovid search between 1966 and 2013 were examined. For each selected study, we calculated the percent annual change in age-standardized hip fracture rates de-novo. Although occurring at different time points, trend breaks in hip fracture incidence occurred in most Western countries and Oceania. After a steep rise in age-adjusted rates in these regions, a decrease became evident sometimes between the mid-seventies and nineties, depending on the country. Conversely, the data is scarce in Asia and South America, with evidence for a continuous rise in hip fracture rates, with the exception of Hong-Kong and Taiwan that seem to follow Western trends. The etiologies of these secular patterns in both the developed and the developing countries have not been fully elucidated, but the impact of urbanization is at least one plausible explanation. Data presented here show close parallels between rising rates of urbanization and hip fractures across disparate geographic locations and cultures. Once the proportion of the urban population stabilized, hip fracture rates also stabilize or begin to decrease perhaps due to the influence of other factors such as birth cohort effects, changes in bone mineral density and BMI, osteoporosis medication use and/or lifestyle interventions such as smoking cessation, improvement in nutritional status and fall prevention.

Proactive pharmaceutical care interventions decrease patients’ nonadherence to osteoporosis medication

Using a protocolled intervention program, pharmacists can decrease nonadherence to osteoporosis medication, by continuous monitoring and tailored counseling sessions, starting at treatment initiation. In the usual care group, 32.8% of patients initiating osteoporosis medication discontinued or were nonadherent, compared to 19.0% of patients in the intervention group. While community pharmacies have been shown to offer a promising platform for osteoporosis management in patients with osteoporosis, more research is needed to determine pharmacists' effects on improving adherence. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of a community pharmacists' intervention program on the 1-year discontinuation and nonadherence rates of patients initiating osteoporosis medication. This intervention study included 937 patients, recruited from 13 Dutch community pharmacies, initiating osteoporosis medication. The intervention group (N = 495), received the Medication Monitoring and Optimization (MeMO) intervention, comprising of continuous monitoring of patients' adherence to their osteoporosis medication and tailored counseling sessions with nonadherent patients. Results were compared to an internal (n = 442) reference group, receiving usual pharmacy care. Primary study outcomes were therapy discontinuation and nonadherence; results were adjusted for potential confounders using Cox proportional hazard analysis. Secondary outcome was patients' satisfaction. In the usual care group, 32.8% of patients initiating osteoporosis medication discontinued or were nonadherent, compared to 19.0% of patients in the intervention group (P < 0.001). Ninety-three percent of the respondents were satisfied with the pharmacies' services provided. Notably, 31% mentioned that the pharmacy was the only place where they received information on various aspects of administration and acting of their medication. Pharmacists can decrease nonadherence and discontinuation with osteoporosis medication by providing tailored counseling sessions and continuous monitoring of drug use. Pharmaceutical care programs, such as MeMO, contribute to more optimal use of osteoporosis medication.

Osteoporosis Medication Use After Hip Fracture in U.S. Patients Between 2002 and 2011

Hip fractures are common, morbid, costly, and associated with subsequent fractures. Historically, postfracture osteoporosis medication use rates have been poor, but have not been recently examined in a large-scale study. We conducted a retrospective, observational cohort study based on U.S. administrative insurance claims data for beneficiaries with commercial or Medicare supplemental health insurance. Eligible participants were hospitalized for hip fracture between January 1, 2002, and December 31, 2011, and aged 50 years or older at admission. The outcome of interest was osteoporosis medication use within 12 months after discharge. Patients were censored after 12 months, loss to follow-up, or a medical claim for cancer or Paget's disease, whichever event occurred first. During the study period, 96,887 beneficiaries met the inclusion criteria; they had a mean age of 80 years and 70% were female. A total of 34,389 (35.5%) patients were censored before reaching 12 months of follow-up. The Kaplan-Meier estimated probability of osteoporosis medication use within 12 months after discharge was 28.5%. The rates declined significantly from 40.2% in 2002, to 20.5% in 2011 (p for trend <0.001). In multivariable Cox proportional hazards models, a number of patient characteristics were associated with reduced likelihood of osteoporosis medication use, including older age and male gender. However, the predictor most strongly and most positively associated with osteoporosis medication use after fracture was osteoporosis medication use before the fracture (hazard ratio = 7.45; 95% confidence interval [CI], 7.23–7.69). Most patients suffering a hip fracture do not use osteoporosis medication in the subsequent year and treatment rates have worsened. © 2014 Eli Lilly and Company. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

Changing patterns of use of osteoporosis medications in the years after launch: implications for comparative effectiveness research

Newly marketed medications may be used selectively in patients with more severe disease. Changes in patterns of use following a drug's introduction to the market can greatly influence results from non-experimental comparative effectiveness research. We sought to explore this issue by characterizing trends in oral and injectable prescription drug claims for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. We examined a post-menopausal population of women age 55 years and older in the Truven Health Analytics MarketScan® Databases. We used propensity score (PS) methods to describe how predictors of new users of oral and injectable osteoporosis medications change over time. We found that injectable osteoporosis medications tended to be used more selectively in the higher risk patients shortly after launch. Over time, they appeared to be used increasingly in lower risk patients. If disease severity is incompletely captured in the data, comparative effectiveness of novel osteoporosis medications may be difficult to accurately estimate, particularly when medications are new to market.

Use of Calcium Supplements, Vitamin D Supplements and Specific Osteoporosis Drugs Among French Women Aged 75–85 Years: Patterns of Use and Associated Factors

Despite the availability of effective preventive and curative medications for osteoporosis, and guidelines for its diagnosis and management, few individuals are treated for osteoporosis, even among those who have already had a fracture. Our objective was to describe the patterns of use of medication for osteoporosis, i.e., calcium supplements, vitamin D supplements, and specific anti-osteoporotic drugs, such as bisphosphonates, in a large sample of French older women living at home, and to identify individual factors associated with use of these medications overall and in two specific clinical situations. Cross-sectional analysis of data from 4,221 women aged 75-85 years who participated in a balance and mobility examination as part of the screening procedure for the Ossébo study, a randomized controlled trial testing the effectiveness of exercise for the prevention of fall-related injuries. Electoral rolls were used to invite women in 16 towns to participate (participation rate 10.3 %). Information collected through questionnaires included current medication use and, in particular, use of osteoporosis medications (specific osteoporosis drugs, calcium and vitamin D supplementation) in the past 6 months, and history of fracture since the age of 50, including fracture locations. Fractures were categorized in three groups: no fracture, major osteoporotic fracture (hip, humerus, wrist, pelvis, and vertebra), and other fracture. Nearly 48 % of the participants reported they did not take calcium or vitamin D supplements or any specific osteoporosis drugs. Of the 2,133 women who reported using osteoporosis medication, 85 % used vitamin D supplements (25 % as the sole medication against this disease), 59 % calcium supplements, and 42 % a specific anti-osteoporotic drug (75 % of them combining it with vitamin D supplementation). The use of any osteoporosis medication was significantly associated (p < 0.001) with a history of a major osteoporotic fracture, lower weight, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) bone-density measurement in the past 5 years, a cancer-screening examination in the past 5 years, and a positive attitude toward medication use in general. Living alone was associated with a lower likelihood of using a specific anti-osteoporotic drug, and a higher education level was associated with a higher likelihood of vitamin D supplementation. Of the 1,553 women who had already had a major osteoporotic fracture, one-third (34.8 %) were not taking any osteoporosis medication. In this subgroup, use of this medication was associated with the same factors as in the overall study population. In particular, neither older age nor a history of falls in the previous 12 months was associated with a higher likelihood of using osteoporosis medication. Among the 909 women who reported using a specific osteoporosis drug, vitamin D use was associated with a higher educational level and a more frequent preventive attitude. In France, as in other western countries, women aged 75 years and over are not managed according to guidelines. Further studies should address the barriers encountered in improving quality of care in osteoporosis management.

Pain course in conservatively treated patients with back pain and a VCF on the spine radiograph (VERTOS III)

Little is known about the natural course of pain from vertebral compression fractures (VCF). In this study we evaluated the pain course in conservatively treated patients with back pain and a VCF on the spine radiograph. Between May 2007 and November 2008, 169 patients with back pain referred by the general practitioner for spine radiographs and with a VCF were requested to participate in this follow-up study. Base line questionnaires about visual analogue scale (VAS) score, type of treatment and use of osteoporosis medication were filled in by 82 patients. Questionnaires were repeated at 6 weeks, and at 3, 6 and 12 months. Significant pain relief was defined as a decrease in VAS score of 50% or more from baseline. At baseline, mean VAS score in 82 patients was 6.9 (SD 2.0). Significant pain relief at 12 months was reported by 44 patients (54%) while in 38 patients (46%) pain relief was insufficient. No predictors for pain relief could be identified. Patients with insufficient pain relief at 12 months used significantly more analgesics and in these patients physiotherapy did better than other types of therapy. More than half of conservatively treated patients with back pain and VCF had sufficient pain relief at 12 months with most pain decrease in the first 3 months. However, a substantial proportion of patients still reported disabling pain. There were no predictors for the development of chronic pain. Patients with continuing pain ≥3 months after diagnosis of VCF may be candidates for vertebroplasty.

Use of pharmacologic agents for the primary prevention of osteoporosis among older women with low bone mass

We examined the use of pharmacologic agents for the primary prevention of osteoporosis among older women with osteopenia. We found that these individuals were not managed in concordance with the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) guidelines and that self-perceived osteoporosis risk and lower bone density were strongly associated with receipt of treatment. Although osteoporosis medications are used for the primary prevention of osteoporosis among persons with low bone mass (osteopenia), their use may be discordant with clinical practice guidelines. We studied women 55 years and older participating in the Global Longitudinal Study of Osteoporosis in Women (GLOW). Eligible participants had a dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) test performed at the University of Alabama at Birmingham hospital and had an osteopenia diagnosis based on their DXA test results. Participants' demographics, fracture risk factors, and exposure to osteoporosis medications were determined from the GLOW survey. We examined the proportions of women managed in concordance with the National Osteoporosis Foundation 2008 guidelines, and we assessed factors independently associated with osteoporosis treatment decisions. Women with a prior spine or hip fracture were excluded. Among 597 eligible women from GLOW, the mean age ± standard deviation (SD) was 70 ± 7 years. Among all subjects, 309 (52%) were treated in concordance with the NOF 2008 guidelines. Greater self-perceived osteoporosis risk and lower bone mineral density were significantly and consistently associated with receipt of osteoporosis treatment, both for those considered appropriate and for those considered inappropriate for treatment based on the NOF guidelines. We found significant discordance between NOF 2008 guidelines and pharmacologic management of women with osteopenia. A person's self-perceived osteoporosis risk and bone mineral density were most strongly associated with receipt of osteoporosis medication use among women with low bone mass.

Scores on the Safe Functional Motion test predict incident vertebral compression fracture

The Safe Functional Motion test (SFM) was developed to document movement strategies used to perform everyday activities that may increase the risk for osteoporotic fracture. After adjusting for variables known to predict vertebral compression fracture (VCF), baseline score on the SFM was a significant independent predictor of incident VCF at 1- and 3-year follow-ups. Functional movements may contribute to risk for VCF. We hypothesize that scores on the SFM, a performance-based test of physical function, are associated with incident VCF. An osteoporosis clinic database was queried for men and women ≥ 50 years with an initial SFM and corresponding data for prevalent VCF, history of injurious falls, femoral neck bone mineral density (fnBMD), osteoporosis medication use, and incident morphometric VCF at 1-year (n = 878) and 3-year follow-ups (n = 503). Multiple logistic regressions, adjusted for gender, age, injurious fall(s), fnBMD, prevalent VCF at baseline, and osteoporosis medication use, were used to determine whether SFM score was associated with incident VCF at follow-up visits. Baseline SFM score was a significant independent predictor of incident VCF at 1-year follow-up (adjusted odds ratio (95 % confidence intervals (CI)) = 0.818 (0.707, 0.948); p < 0.008) and 3-year follow-up (adjusted odds ratio (95 % CI) = 0.728 (0.628, 0.844); p < 0.0001). Baseline fnBMD and osteoporosis medication use were significant predictors at 1-year (p = 0.05 and < 0.0001, respectively) and 3-year (p < 0.01 and 0.001, respectively) follow-ups. At 3-year follow-up, gender and prevalent VCF were also significant predictors (p = 0.003 and 0.007, respectively). For every 10-point increase in SFM score, the odds of future VCF decreases by 18 % at 1 year and 27 % at 3 years after adjusting for known covariates. The SFM may aid in the identification of modifiable functional risk factors for VCF.

Comparison of hip fracture and osteoporosis medication prescription rates across Canadian provinces

The study explores osteoporosis medication prescribing across Canadian provinces and any impact on hip fracture rates. Despite a marked variation in the prescribing of such medication, there is no effect on the hip fracture rate in either gender or any age group, suggesting either poor targeting or lack of efficacy. Hip fractures are the most disabling and costly of osteoporotic fractures, and a reduction in the risk of hip fracture is an expectation of osteoporosis medications. In this study, we have compared the use of osteoporosis medication across Canadian provinces with the rate of hip fractures in the same regions. Three years of hip fracture data (2007-2009 inclusive) were obtained from the Canadian Institute for Health Information for all Canadian provinces excluding Quebec. Population information was obtained from Statistics Canada and medication information from the Brogan Inc. database. Because osteoporosis medication is available daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly, medication prescriptions were converted to "units" of prescribing, so that a once a year infusion represented 365 units, a monthly prescription 30 units, and so forth. There is a fourfold difference in prescribing across provinces but no corresponding variation in hip fracture rate. No significant correlation exists between prescribing load and hip fracture rate. This was true for all age groups, both genders, and for both intertrochanteric and subcapital hip fracture. We find no association between osteoporosis medication prescribing and hip fracture rate. Possible explanations include insufficient numbers of at-risk patients on treatment, inappropriate targeting, and either lack of efficacy or efficacy limited to only certain subgroups of patients such as those with demonstrable trabecular osteoporosis.

Zoledronic Acid Prevents Bone Mineral Density Loss at the Hip, but not at the Knee, in Persons with Acute Spinal Cord Injury

Percentage with renal insufficiency < 30 egfr (mL/min/m2) 5% (3) Dysphagia 63% (40) CONCLUSION: The low rate of therapy for osteoporosis was most unexpected. The Rheumatology faculty gives annual educational lectures related to management and screening for Osteoporosis and fracture prevention targeted to health providers in the long term care unit. We have initiated a survey of health care providers at our VA to determine feedback of perceived limitations in osteoporosis screening and management to further determine future optimal interventions. 1. Paniagua MA, Malphurs JE, Samos LF. BMI and low bone mass in an elderly male nursing home population. Clinical interventions in aging 2006:1 (3) 283-287. 2. Parikh S, Mogun H, Avorn J, Solomon DH. Osteoporosis Medication Use in Nursing Home Patients with Fractures in 1 US State. Arch Intern Med. 2008; 168 (10):1111-1115.

Multimodal intervention to improve osteoporosis care in home health settings: results from a cluster randomized trial

We conducted a cluster randomized trial testing the effectiveness of an intervention to increase the use of osteoporosis medications in high-risk patients receiving home health care. The trial did not find a significant difference in medication use in the intervention arm. This study aims to test an evidence implementation intervention to improve the quality of care in the home health care setting for patients at high risk for fractures. We conducted a cluster randomized trial of a multimodal intervention targeted at home care for high-risk patients (prior fracture or physician-diagnosed osteoporosis) receiving care in a statewide home health agency in Alabama. Offices throughout the state were randomized to receive the intervention or to usual care. The primary outcome was the proportion of high-risk home health patients treated with osteoporosis medications. A t test of difference in proportions was conducted between intervention and control arms and constituted the primary analysis. Secondary analyses included logistic regression estimating the effect of individual patients being treated in an intervention arm office on the likelihood of a patient receiving osteoporosis medications. A follow-on analysis examined the effect of an automated alert built into the electronic medical record that prompted the home health care nurses to deploy the intervention for high-risk patients using a pre-post design. There were 11 offices randomized to each of the treatment and control arms; these offices treated 337 and 330 eligible patients, respectively. Among the offices in the intervention arm, the average proportion of eligible patients receiving osteoporosis medications post-intervention was 19.1 %, compared with 15.7 % in the usual care arm (difference in proportions 3.4 %, 95 % CI, -2.6 to 9.5 %). The overall rates of osteoporosis medication use increased from 14.8 % prior to activation of the automated alert to 17.6 % afterward, a nonsignificant difference. The home health intervention did not result in a significant improvement in use of osteoporosis medications in high-risk patients.

Bone health among prostate cancer survivors: Long-term follow-up from the Prostate Cancer Outcomes Study (PCOS).

106 Background: Bone complications of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) have been described using administrative databases and smaller prospective studies with relatively short follow-up. Prospectively acquired data with long term follow-up are lacking. We assessed the relationship of patient-reported bone health and ADT exposure in a population-based prospective cohort of prostate cancer survivors followed longitudinally for 15 years from diagnosis. Methods: Using PCOS 15 year patient-reported survey data, we identified men with non-metastatic prostate cancer diagnosed from 1994-1995 and followed through 2009-2010. We evaluated subgroups receiving &gt;1 yr, ≤1 yr, and no ADT. We then queried participants regarding the development of osteoporosis, fracture, and use of osteoporosis medications. We assessed the relationship between duration of ADT and bone health outcomes using univariable logistic regression models, and evaluated the association between ADT and osteoporosis medications using multivariable logistic regression adjusted for PSA and geographic location. Results: Among 961 men who completed 15 year surveys, 157 received &gt;1 yr ADT, 120 received ≤1 yr ADT, and 684 did not receive ADT. During the study period, 12 men developed bone metastases and were excluded from the fracture analysis (7 received &gt;1 yr ADT, 2 received ≤1 yr ADT, and 3 did not receive ADT). Men receiving &gt;1 yr ADT were more likely to report osteoporosis (OR 4.29, 95% CI 2.38-7.71) or fracture (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.04-2.89) than men not receiving ADT. When compared with men not receiving ADT, men receiving &gt;1 yr ADT were more likely to report bone mineral density testing (OR 4.59, 95% CI 3.09-6.83), and bone medication use (OR 3.22, 95% CI 2.19-4.72). Half (50.3%) of men treated for &gt;1 yr ADT reported bone medication use. Among men who reported use of bone medications, 94% reported calcium or vitamin D use and 6% reported bisphosphonate use. Conclusions: Men treated with prolonged ADT (&gt;1 yr) reported higher rates of osteoporosis and fracture at 15 year follow up. Accordingly, they reported more frequent screening and treatment for osteoporosis, with 50% of men receiving prolonged ADT reporting use of bone medications.

Calcium and vitamin D intake by postmenopausal women with osteoporosis in Spain: an observational calcium and vitamin D intake (CaVIT) study

BackgroundOsteoporotic fractures are important causes of morbidity, mortality, and increased health care costs. However, the risk of osteoporotic fractures can be decreased, with clinical studies supporting the use of calcium and vitamin D supplements to promote bone health. Vitamin D insufficiency is widespread, particularly among postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, and this indicates that dietary intake is suboptimal, even though vitamin D supplements are widely available.MethodsWe conducted an observational study, using telephone surveys, to estimate vitamin D and calcium intake and the use of prescription osteoporosis medications in Spanish women aged ≥ 50 years with osteoporosis.ResultsAmong the study participants, mean dietary calcium intake was 1239 mg/day and generally appeared sufficient in terms of the recommended daily intake guidance documents. Participants aged ≥ 75 years had a significantly lower mean dietary calcium intake (988 mg/day), thus one-half were below the level advised by the World Health Organization. Daily calcium intake was also lower in participants who were not taking prescription medications for bone health. Dietary vitamin D intake was 167 IU/day, which is well below both the established target dose (400 IU/day) and the more recent, higher guideline recommended for postmenopausal women (800–1300 IU/day). Dietary vitamin D intake was even lower for participants aged ≥ 75 years (120 IU/day) and was not related to the use of bone health prescription medications.ConclusionThese results support the need for greater promotion of the benefits of higher vitamin D intake in Spanish women with osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis/osteopenia as an independent factor associated with periodontitis in postmenopausal women: a case–control study

This study investigated whether osteoporosis/osteopenia has an influence on the progression of periodontitis in postmenopausal women. The findings highlight that postmenopausal women with osteoporosis/osteopenia had a greater chance of presenting periodontitis than those with normal bone mineral density, particularly among nonusers of osteoporosis medications and women with a greater number of remaining teeth, showing that osteoporosis/osteopenia has had an influence on the progression of periodontitis. This study investigated whether osteoporosis/osteopenia has an influence on the progression of periodontitis in postmenopausal women and explored the effects of use of osteoporosis medication and tooth loss on this association. This case-control study involved 521 postmenopausal women, with minimum age of 50 years, in Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil. Sociodemographic characteristics, health conditions/medications, and lifestyle habits were recorded. A complete periodontal examination was performed and periodontitis was diagnosed. Bone mineral density was evaluated through lumbar spine and femoral bone densitometry, obtained using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Logistic regression was used to calculate the strength of association between the occurrences of osteoporosis/osteopenia and periodontitis. Women with osteoporosis/osteopenia were twice as likely to present periodontitis, as were those with normal bone mineral density, even after adjusting for smoking, age, family income, and last visit to dentist (odds ratios (OR)adjusted=2.24, 95% CI [1.24-4.06], p=0.008). Among nonusers of osteoporosis medication (ORadjusted=2.51, 95% CI [1.33-4.73], p=0.004) and women with at least 10 remaining teeth (ORadjusted=2.50 95% CI [1.18-5.27], p=0.02), the odds ratio was higher and statistically significant. These findings highlight that postmenopausal women with osteoporosis/osteopenia had a greater chance of presenting periodontitis than those with normal bone mineral density, particularly among nonusers of osteoporosis medications and women with a greater number of remaining teeth.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Osteoporosis in High-Risk Patients Prior to Hip Fracture

Hip fractures in older adults are common and serious events. Patients who sustain fragility hip fractures are defined as having osteoporosis. Patients with dementia or a history of a prior fragility fracture are at increased risk of a future fracture. This study assesses prefracture osteoporosis diagnosis and treatment in high-risk groups. A case-control analysis of a database of all patients age ≥60 years admitted for surgical repair of nonpathological, low-impact femur fracture between May 2005 and October 2010 was performed. Of 1070 patients, 511 (47.8%) had dementia and 435 (40.7%) had been diagnosed with osteoporosis prior to admission. Patients with dementia were more likely to have a diagnosis of osteoporosis prior to their fracture than those without dementia (43.8% vs 37.7%, P < .05). Twenty-five percent of the total study population had been treated with calcium and vitamin D (Cal+D) prior to admission, and 12% with other osteoporosis medications. There was a trend toward patients with dementia being more likely to have been on Cal+D prior to admission (27.6% vs 22.5%, P = .06), but no difference in treatment with other agents (10.8% vs 13.1%, P = .25). Patients with prior fragility fractures were more likely to be on Cal+D (32.3% vs 25.0%, P < .02); however, there was no difference in the use of other osteoporosis medications (12.3% vs 12%, P = .90). Fewer than half of patients that presented with hip fractures were diagnosed with osteoporosis prior to fracture and primary preventative treatment rates were low. Although patients with dementia are more likely to be diagnosed with osteoporosis, they were not more likely to be treated, despite having a greater risk. Additionally, those with prior fragility fractures are often not on preventative treatment. This may represent a missed opportunity for prevention and room for improvement in order to reduce osteoporotic hip fractures.

Are long-term bisphosphonate users a reality? Dose years for current bisphosphonate users assessed using the danish national prescription database

The prevalence of long-term bisphosphonate use may be low due to low refill compliance and gaps in treatment. An analysis of the prescription history of 58,674 bisphosphonate users in Denmark found that only 2.8% had received ten dose years of treatment or above. This study aims to describe the demographics of present bisphosphonate (BP) users, to determine the prevalence of long-term BP use, and to establish if long-term use (a 10-year history of osteoporosis treatment) translated to ten dose years of bisphosphonate prescriptions filled, given the propensity for treatment gaps and low refill compliance with bisphosphonates. The study population was all persons aged 35 and above, who had filled at least one prescription for an oral bisphosphonate in the year 2008. Past use of osteoporosis medications (bisphosphonates, raloxifene, strontium ranelate, or PTH analogs) for the period January 1, 1995 to December 31, 2007 was retrieved from the Danish National Prescription Database for descriptive analysis. Of the 58,674 BP users, 46% were above the age of 75, and 13% were men. Though 5.9% had at least a 10-year history of treatment, only half (2.8%) had received more than ten dose years of a BP. For any osteoporosis drug, 3.0% had received ten dose years or more, while 23.2% had received between 5 and 10years of treatment. Long-term users with ten dose years or more of a BP are rare due to periods of low compliance and gaps, with a discrepancy between the length of treatment and doses taken. The study also highlights the great number of patients who have used BP for more than five dose years and should be advised on length of treatment, a decision process that will be difficult due to the paucity of long-term safety and efficacy data.

A cohort study of osteoporosis health knowledge and medication use in older adults with minimal trauma fracture

We measured osteoporosis knowledge in an older adult population with minimal trauma fracture. At follow-up, health literacy and osteoporosis knowledge had not changed significantly from baseline, and 14 (23 %) patients reported not taking any osteoporosis medication. Current osteoporosis care does not result in increased patient knowledge about their disease. We aimed to measure health literacy and osteoporosis knowledge in an older adult population with minimal trauma fracture (MTF). A cohort study with 3-month follow-up in Australia was conducted. Participants were hospital admissions with an MTF confirmed by X-ray. Main outcomes were the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM) and Osteoporosis Knowledge Assessment Tool (OKAT) scores. Supplementary data about osteoporosis knowledge, medication use and family practitioner visits regarding osteoporosis were obtained. Complete data are available in 60 participants. On admission, 97 % participants had high REALM scores [mean (range) 64.7 (46.66)] and low OKAT scores [8.83 (2.16)]. At follow-up, three (5 %) participants had a further fracture. REALM and OKAT scores had not changed significantly from baseline. There was no association between OKAT score at follow-up and current treatment for osteoporosis, beliefs relating to treatment or bone health, and discussion with health care worker since discharge after adjusting for Mini Mental State Examination score. Health literacy or reading ability was not related to OKAT score. Osteoporosis knowledge assessed by the OKAT did not improve in the 3months after MTF in this cohort of literate older adults, although there was some evidence of improvements in health beliefs. Current care in osteoporosis does not increase patient knowledge about their disease adequately which may impair patient effectiveness in obtaining appropriate treatment.

Does osteoporosis therapy invalidate FRAX for fracture prediction?

Ten-year fracture risk assessment with the fracture risk assessment system (FRAX) is increasingly used to guide treatment decisions. Osteoporosis pharmacotherapy reduces fracture risk, but the effect is greater than can be explained from the increase in bone mineral density (BMD). Whether this invalidates fracture predictions with FRAX is uncertain. A total of 35,764 women (age ≥50 years) and baseline BMD testing (1996–2007) had FRAX probabilities retroactively calculated. A provincial pharmacy database was used to identify osteoporosis medication use. Women were categorized as untreated, current high adherence users [medication possession ratio (MPR) ≥0.80 in the year after BMD testing], current low adherence users (MPR <0.80), and past users. Fractures outcomes to 10 years were established form a population-based health data repository. FRAX and femoral neck BMD alone stratified major osteoporotic and hip fracture risk within untreated and each treated subgroup (all p-values <0.001) with similar area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. In untreated and each treated subgroup, a stepwise gradient in observed 10-year major osteoporotic and hip fracture incidence was found as a function of the predicted probability tertile (all p-values <0.001 for linear trend). Concordance (calibration) plots for major osteoporotic fractures and hip fractures showed good agreement between the predicted and observed 10-year fracture incidence in untreated women and each treated subgroup. Only in the highest risk tertile of women highly adherent to at least 5 years of bisphosphonate use was observed hip fracture risk significantly less than predicted, though major osteoporotic fracture risk was similar to predicted. In summary, this work suggests that the FRAX tool can be used to predict fracture probability in women currently or previously treated for osteoporosis. Although FRAX should not be used to assess the reduction in fracture risk in individuals on treatment, it may still have value for guiding the need for continued treatment or treatment withdrawal

Self-Efficacy Program to Prevent Osteoporosis Among Chinese Immigrants

: Recent Chinese immigrants have a low bone mineral density and are at a great risk for developing osteoporosis. The majority of Chinese men and women of all ages have inadequate information about their risks for developing osteoporosis and are seldom involved in preventive activities. : The aim of this study was to evaluate the preliminary effectiveness of an educational intervention based on the self-efficacy theory aimed at increasing the knowledge of osteoporosis and adoption of preventive behaviors, including regular exercise and osteoporosis medication adherence, designed for Chinese immigrants, aged 45 years or above, living in the United States. : A randomized controlled trial was employed, using a repeated-measure design. Foreign-born Mandarin-speaking Asians (n = 110) were recruited to the study, and 83 of them (mean age = 64.08 years, SD = 9.48 years) were assigned randomly to either the intervention group (n = 42) or the attention control group (n = 41). There were 63 (75.9%) women and 20 (24.1%) men. Data were collected at baseline and 2 weeks after the intervention. : The participants who received the intervention had statistically significant improvements (p < .05) at 2 weeks postintervention with respect to osteoporosis-related knowledge, self-efficacy for exercise, and osteoporosis medication adherence. Moreover, the participants in the treatment group spent more time on moderate exercise, had higher energy expenditure on exercise, and had more osteoporosis medication use at 2 weeks postintervention when compared with controls. : The intervention targeting Mandarin-speaking immigrants was effective in increasing the knowledge of osteoporosis and improving the adoption of preventive behaviors. Future research is needed to explore the long-term effect of this intervention on bone health behavior.