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Clinical characteristics and incidence of first fracture in a consecutive sample of post-menopausal women attending osteoporosis centers: The PROTEO-1 study

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An Erratum to this article was published on 01 January 2012

Abstract

Background: Osteoporosis is a highly prevalent disease and fractures are a major cause of disability and morbidity. Aim: The purpose of this study was to characterize post-menopausal women attending osteoporosis centers in Italy, to evaluate physician management, and to determine the incidence of first osteoporotic fracture. Subjects and methods: PROTEO-1 was an observational longitudinal study with a 12-month follow-up. Data were collected from women attending osteoporosis centers. Women without prevalent fracture were eligible to enter the 1-yr follow-up phase: the clinical approach to patients according to their fracture risk profile and the incidence of fracture were recorded. Results: 4269 patients were enrolled in 80 centers in the cross-sectional phase; 34.2% had an osteoporotic fracture at baseline. Patients with prevalent fractures were older and more likely to be treated compared with non-fractured patients. The incidence of vertebral or hip fracture after 1 yr was 3.84%, regardless of the calculated risk factor profile, and was significantly higher in patients with back pain at baseline (4.2%) compared with those without back pain (2.2%; p=0.023). Generally, physicians prescribed more blood exams and drugs to patients at higher risk of fracture. Among fractured patients only 24% were properly treated; the rate of non-responders to treatment was about 4%. Conclusions: In a large, unselected sample of post-menopausal women attending osteoporosis centers, those without previous fracture were at substantial risk of future fracture, regardless of their theoretical low 10-yr fracture risk. The presence of back pain in women without previous fracture warrants close attention.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gerontology Section, Department of Surgical and Medical Disciplines, University of Turin, Corso Bramante 88/90, 10126, Torino, Italy

    G. C. Isaia MD & P. D’Amelio

  2. Rheumatology Unit, Department of Biomedical and Surgical Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy

    V. Braga

  3. Department of Clinical Sciences, II Clinica Medica, Rome, Italy

    S. Minisola

  4. Rheumatology Unit, Azienda Sanitaria 3, Genoa, Italy

    G. Bianchi

  5. Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy

    A. Del Puente

  6. Rheumatology Unit, Pescara Hospital, Pescara, Italy

    L. Di Matteo

  7. Rheumatology Unit, Hospital Bianchi-Melacrini-Morelli Reggio Calabria, Reggio Calabria, Italy

    G. Pagano Mariano

  8. Center for Osteoporosis Prevention and Care, San Paolo Hospital, Naples, Italy

    V. M. Latte

  9. Gerontology Unit, Hospital “B.Romeo”, Patti (ME), Italy

    F. D’Amico

  10. Rheumatology Unit, Hospital, Policlinico Consorziale, Bari, Italy

    C. Bonali

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  1. G. C. Isaia MD
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Correspondence to G. C. Isaia MD.

Additional information

An erratum to this article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF03345416.

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Isaia, G.C., Braga, V., Minisola, S. et al. Clinical characteristics and incidence of first fracture in a consecutive sample of post-menopausal women attending osteoporosis centers: The PROTEO-1 study. J Endocrinol Invest 34, 534–540 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03345393

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