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GRAND: the German retrospective cohort analysis on compliance and persistence and the associated risk of fractures in osteoporotic women treated with oral bisphosphonates

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Abstract

Summary

This database analysis of over 4,000 German women prescribed oral bisphosphonates between December 2004 and November 2007 showed that compliance and persistence with oral bisphosphonates in German women with osteoporosis were inadequate.

Introduction

GRAND is a database analysis designed to investigate persistence and compliance with oral bisphosphonate regimens, and their association with fracture incidence, in women with osteoporosis.

Methods

Diagnostic, treatment and fracture data were obtained from the IMS® Disease Analyzer patient database in Germany. Women with osteoporosis prescribed one of six specified oral bisphosphonates between December 2004 and November 2007 with no similar prescription for at least 1 year beforehand were eligible for analysis. Those treated with intravenous bisphosphonates were excluded. Persistence (prescription refill gap of ≤30 days or change of treatment frequency) and compliance (medication possession ratio) were measured for 2 years from therapy start.

Results

Data from 4,147 women were evaluable, with a median oral bisphosphonate treatment duration of 145.5 days. Persistence rates after 1 and 2 years were 27.9% and 12.9%, respectively, and 66.3% of women were compliant. As expected, persistence rates were higher when the refill gap was increased to 60 or 90 days. No significant differences in 1-year persistence between patients on weekly or monthly treatment regimens were observed (28.6% and 29.4%, respectively), although 1-year persistence with daily treatment was only 7.2%. After 24 months of therapy, compliant women had fewer fractures than non-compliant women (88.1% and 85.0% fracture-free, respectively; p = 0.0147). In multivariate Cox regression analysis, treatment compliance was the only factor that significantly decreased fracture risk (p = 0.0034).

Conclusions

Compliance and persistence with oral bisphosphonates in German women with osteoporosis were inadequate. Better compliance and persistence can prevent fractures in these women.

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Acknowledgements

This study was sponsored by Amgen (Europe) GmbH. Amgen (Europe) GmbH and GlaxoSmithKline Ltd. provided funds to Bioscript Stirling Ltd. for editing/formatting assistance and to Surfmedia for graphics support.

Conflicts of interest

Dr. Hadji has received honoraria, unrestricted educational grants and research funding from the following companies: Amgen, AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, Pfizer, Procter & Gamble and Roche. Dr. Ziller has no conflict of interest. V Claus and K Kostev are employees of IMS Health GmbH & Co. OHG. T Steinle is an employee of Amgen, Germany. M Intorcia is an employee of Amgen (Europe), Switzerland.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Klinik für Gynäkologie, Gynäkologische Endokrinologie und Onkologie, Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany

    P. Hadji & V. Ziller

  2. Health Economics & Outcomes Research, IMS Health GmbH & Co. OHG, Munich, Germany

    V. Claus

  3. iHE, Amgen (Europe) GmbH, Zug, Switzerland

    M. Intorcia

  4. Centre of Excellence Patient Data, IMS Health GmbH & Co. OHG, Munich, Germany

    K. Kostev

  5. Health Economics, Amgen GmbH, Munich, Germany

    T. Steinle

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  1. P. Hadji
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Correspondence to V. Claus.

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Hadji, P., Claus, V., Ziller, V. et al. GRAND: the German retrospective cohort analysis on compliance and persistence and the associated risk of fractures in osteoporotic women treated with oral bisphosphonates. Osteoporos Int 23, 223–231 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-011-1535-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-011-1535-z

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