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Use of antiosteoporotic drugs and calcium/vitamin D in patients with fragility fractures: impact on re-fracture and mortality risk

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Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the impact of pharmacological treatment in osteoporosis patients with recent fracture and to assess the incidence of subsequent fracture and all-cause mortality.

Methods

This observational retrospective study was based on data from administrative databases of five Italian Local Health Units. Osteoporosis patients aged ≥ 50 years with hospitalization for vertebral or hip fracture occurring between 01/01/2011 and 31/12/2015 were included. Treatment adherence was calculated using the medication possession ratio. Multivariable proportional hazard Cox model was used to identify factors associated with time to re-fracture and all-cause mortality.

Results

A cohort of 3475 patients were included and 41.5% of them did not receive any specific anti-fracture treatment. Among treated patients (N = 2032), the majority (83.6%) received calcium/vitamin D supplementation. Over a mean follow-up of 3 years, the risk of subsequent fractures was 44.4% lower in treated patients compared to untreated ones (HR = 0.556, 95% CI = 0.420–0.735, p < 0.001) and 64.4% lower in those receiving calcium/vitamin D supplementation compared to osteoporosis treatment only (HR = 0.356, 95% CI = 0.237-0.533, p < 0.001). The risk of re-fracture was 77.2% lower in treated patients who were adherent to medication (HR = 0.228, 95% CI = 0.139–0.376, p < 0.001). Treated patients had 64% lower mortality risk over the follow-up compared to untreated ones (HR = 0.360, 95% CI = 0.310–0.418, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

A consistent proportion of osteoporosis patients did not receive specific treatment after a fracture, showing poor adherence to national guidelines on osteoporosis treatment. Osteoporosis drug treatment, and to a greater extent in combination with calcium/vitamin D, and adherence were correlated with lower risk of both re-fracture and all-cause mortality.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank all participants who took part in this study.

on the behalf of the Study group:

A. Vercellone5 and E. Nava5, F. Ferrante6, C. Bianchi6, S. Crescenzi6, P. F. Venditti6, M. Folcatrelli6, A. Constantini7, C. Cattaruzzi8

Funding

This study was sponsored unconditionally by Abiogen Pharma S.p.A, Pisa, Italy.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CliCon S.r.l. Health, Economics & Outcomes Research, Ravenna, Italy

    Luca Degli Esposti, Anna Girardi & Stefania Saragoni

  2. UOC HTA, Azienda Zero—Regione Veneto, Verona, Italy

    Margherita Andretta

  3. Rheumatology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata di Verona, Verona, Italy

    Maurizio Rossini

  4. Department of Medicine, Clinica Medica 1, University of Padova and Regional Center for Osteoporosis, Padova, Italy

    Stefania Sella & Sandro Giannini

  5. Department of Pharmacy, Local Health Unit (LHU) Naples 3 South, Naples, Italy

    A. Vercellone & E. Nava

  6. Department Diagnostic and Pharmacy—U.O.C. Pharmacy, Local Health Unit Frosinone, Frosinone, Italy

    F. Ferrante, C. Bianchi, S. Crescenzi, P. F. Venditti & M. Folcatrelli

  7. Hospital Pharmacy, “Spirito Santo Hospital”, Pescara, Italy

    A. Constantini

  8. Pharmaceutical Care Unit, ASUIUD, Udine, Italy

    C. Cattaruzzi

Authors
  1. Luca Degli Esposti
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  7. Sandro Giannini
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Consortia

on the behalf of the Study group

  • A. Vercellone
  • , E. Nava
  • , F. Ferrante
  • , C. Bianchi
  • , S. Crescenzi
  • , P. F. Venditti
  • , M. Folcatrelli
  • , A. Constantini
  •  & C. Cattaruzzi

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Luca Degli Esposti.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Degli Esposti, L., Girardi, A., Saragoni, S. et al. Use of antiosteoporotic drugs and calcium/vitamin D in patients with fragility fractures: impact on re-fracture and mortality risk. Endocrine 64, 367–377 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-018-1824-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-018-1824-9

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