Category: Orthopaedics

Life long treatment for osteoporosis has not been adhered to amongst the Swedish population. Situation could be worse in India where poverty, illiteracy, myths and ignorance could add to the existing problem .It becomes the Family doctor’s job to educate & see that the patients take these medicines lifelong.

Team@CMHF

Osteoporosis treatments reduce the risk of fractures. The objective of this study was to investigate adherence to treatment of osteoporosis and its association to fractures in Sweden. Adherence to treatment of osteoporosis in Sweden is poor, and time on treatment was found to be significantly associated with fracture incidence

Patients were identified through filled prescriptions for alendronate, risedronate, strontium ranelate, and raloxifene between 2005 and 2009.Persistence was investigated using survival analysis. Medication possession ratio (MPR) was used to measure compliance in persistent patients. The outcome measure in the analysis of adherence and fracture incidence was hospitalized osteoporotic fractures

A total of 51%, 35%, 25%, and 14% were still on treatment (switching allowed) after 1, 2, 3, and 4 years, respectively. No significant relationship was identified between MPR and fracture risk. Compared with<1 month of therapy, treatment for 1 month to 1 year, 1 to 2 years, and 2 to 3 years was associated with a lower 3-year fracture incidence.

Approximately 50% of all treatment-naïve patients discontinue therapy within 1 year. A strong association was identified between treatment persistence and fracture incidence, which calls for action to improve the current situation.

Ref: http://www.docguide.com/adherence-treatment-primary-osteoporosis-and-its-association-fractures-swedish-adherence-register-an?hash=80445d1a&eid=18178&alrhash=2efbb8-880279c42369cc2f8adcb48a6daaf3d2

For: AYUSH/ Allopaths