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MENOPOST - Calcium and vitamin D supplementation in postmenopausal osteoporosis treatment: a descriptive cohort study

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Abstract

Summary

Adequate vitamin D/calcium supplementation during osteoporosis (OP) treatments seems insufficient. This cohort study within a national claims database evaluated calcium/vitamin D co-prescription in postmenopausal women initiating an OP treatment. A high co-prescription rate was observed with three quarters of women supplemented with calcium and/or vitamin D in agreement with current recommendations.

Introduction

Adequate calcium/vitamin D supplementation should be taken in combination with antiresorptive drugs in OP treatment. Despite guidelines, supplementation appears to be insufficient. The objective of this study was to describe and estimate co-prescription rates of calcium/vitamin D among postmenopausal women initiating an OP treatment.

Methods

All women over 50 years with a first claim for a bisphosphonates, raloxifene, or strontium prescription filled between May and August 2010 were included in a retrospective cohort study. Data source was the health insurance claims database of the Rhône-Alpes area.

Results

Among 4,415 women, 77.0 % had co-prescription of calcium or vitamin D with initial OP treatment, of which 2,150 (49.7 %) had both calcium and vitamin D. The proportion of women with calcium and/or vitamin D (81.7 %) was significantly higher when OP treatment was a bisphosphonate compared to strontium (70.9 %) or raloxifene (67.0 %) (p < 0.05). Among women prescribed both calcium and vitamin D, 7.6 % received a bisphosphonate and vitamin D ± calcium fixed-combination pack. General practitioners prescribed two thirds of initial supplementation treatment (66.9 %). Patients were twice as likely to be prescribed supplementation when the prescriber was a rheumatologist (OR = 2; 95 % CI = 1.57–2.54).

Conclusion

Three quarters of women initiating OP treatment were supplemented with calcium and/or vitamin D in agreement with current recommendations. This represents a high co-prescription rate.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the contributions of Dr. Roland Nublat and Dr. Gilbert Weill, medical officers at the French Health Insurance of the Rhône-Alpes area.

Conflicts of interest

None.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hospices Civils de Lyon, Pôle Information Médicale Evaluation Recherche, Unité d’Epidémiologie, Lyon, F69003, France

    A. Reymondier, P. Caillet, F. Abbas-Chorfa & A.-M. Schott

  2. Unité INSERM 1033, Université Lyon 1, Lyon, F69003, France

    A.-M. Schott

  3. Direction régionale du service médical de l’Assurance Maladie, Lyon, F69003, France

    V. Ambrosi

  4. Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto, 160-500 University Avenue, Toronto, Canada, M5S 1A8

    S. B. Jaglal

  5. INSERM UMR 1033, Université de Lyon, Division of Rheumatology, Hôpital E Herriot, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, F69003, France

    R. Chapurlat

  6. Pôle Information Médicale Evaluation Recherche, 162 Avenue Lacassagne, 69424, Lyon Cedex 03, France

    A.-M. Schott

Authors
  1. A. Reymondier
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  2. P. Caillet
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  3. F. Abbas-Chorfa
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  7. A.-M. Schott
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Correspondence to A.-M. Schott.

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Reymondier, A., Caillet, P., Abbas-Chorfa, F. et al. MENOPOST - Calcium and vitamin D supplementation in postmenopausal osteoporosis treatment: a descriptive cohort study. Osteoporos Int 24, 559–566 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-012-1999-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-012-1999-5

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