Abstract
Summary
European observational 1-year study assessed osteoporosis and fracture patterns in 3,402 postmenopausal women prescribed osteoporosis medication. Almost 40% of patients had a previous fracture, while 25% had neither fracture nor dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) diagnosis and were prescribed medication, probably due to other risk factors.
Introduction
This analysis assessed osteoporosis and fracture prevalence in postmenopausal women prescribed osteoporosis treatment in the Prospective Observational Study Investigating Bone Loss Experience in Europe(POSSIBLE EU®).
Methods
Women in this observational, multicenter 1-year study were categorized by fracture history and location at baseline. Baseline characteristics were analyzed according to no DXA and DXA diagnosis (osteoporosis or osteopenia). Fractures occurring during the 1-year follow-up period were recorded.
Results
Of the 3,402 women enrolled, 39% had a previous fracture, of whom 30% had ≥2 fractures. One thousand seven hundred and eighty-four (52%) patients had a DXA diagnosis (osteoporosis 68%, osteopenia 31%, and unknown 1%). Among the osteoporosis patients, 37% had a previous fracture (hip 2.9%, vertebral 8.8%, and non-hip, non-vertebral 25%) and 35% had fractures associated with major trauma. Of the 3,402 women, 1,476 (43%) had no DXA diagnosis; of these, 57% had no fracture (25% of all women). Risk factors varied across patients with and without DXA diagnosis. During the 1-year follow-up period, the fracture incidence in patients with or without a previous fracture at baseline was 4.7% and 1.6%, respectively.
Conclusion
Almost 40% of patients prescribed osteoporosis medication had a previous fracture, highlighting a population with advanced disease. In contrast, 25% of patients had neither a previous fracture nor DXA diagnosis and were prescribed treatment, probably due to other risk factors. There is a need for continued improvement of disease management in European women.
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Notes
FRAX® is a trademark of the World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Metabolic Bone Diseases.
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Acknowledgments
The steering committee thanks the investigators and patients who contributed to this study. The steering committee comprises the following: Nick Freemantle (Chair), Cyrus Cooper, Adolfo Díez-Pérez, Francis Guillemin, Rob Horne, Bengt Jonsson, Luc Martinez, Sergio Ortolani, Johannes Pfeilschifter and Christian Roux. Assistance in writing this manuscript was provided by Antonia Panayi, PhD, Amgen (Europe) GmbH and Andy Lockley, PhD, Bioscript Stirling Ltd, UK funded by Amgen (Europe) GmbH and GlaxoSmithKline. We would also like to thank Jon Cooke of Biometrica Ltd for biostatistical support and Alison Dobson of Amgen Ltd, UK, and Philip R. Holland of Holland Numerics Ltd, for programming support.
Funding
The study was sponsored by Amgen Inc.
Conflicts of interest
CR has received research grants and/or honoraria from Amgen, Alliance, MSD, Novartis, Roche and Servier. ADP has served as a speaker and consultant for Amgen. BJ has received funding for advisory boards from Amgen. LM has received consultancy fees from Amgen, Sanofi, Pfizer, Roche and Novo Nordisk. SO has received funding for advisory boards from Amgen, consulting fees and grant/research support from the Institut International de Recherche Servier, speaker’s fees from GlaxoSmithKline and grant research/support from Nycomed. NF has received funding for research, consulting and/or travel from Amgen, Eli Lilly, Servier, Pfizer and Sanofi Aventis. MG, GM and SS are employees of Amgen. The other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
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Roux, C., Cooper, C., Díez-Pérez, A. et al. Prevalence of osteoporosis and fractures among women prescribed osteoporosis medication in five European countries: the POSSIBLE EU® study. Osteoporos Int 22, 1227–1236 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-010-1321-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-010-1321-3