Differences in adherence to osteoporosis regimens: a 2-year analysis of a population treated under specific guidelines

Adherence of bisphosphonate and decreased risk of clinical vertebral fracture in osteoporotic patients: A propensity score matching analysis

Objectives

Bisphosphonate is associated with a decreased risk of vertebral fractures due to osteoporosis. However, there are limited studies on how poor compliance with bisphosphonate affects the risk of vertebral fractures in a nationwide cohort. We aim to evaluate whether adherence to bisphosphonate affects the risk of fracture in osteoporosis patients.

Methods

We used the data of the Korean National Health Insurance Service Senior Cohort. A total of 33,315 (medication possession ratio [MPR]: 50) osteoporosis patients were matched using the propensity score matching method: those who received low-dose bisphosphonate and those who received high-dose bisphosphonate. Twenty-two confounding variables, including age, socioeconomic status, medications prescribed, and underlying diseases that may affect the risk of fracture were adjusted for propensity score matching. The risk of vertebral fracture was assessed by Cox proportional hazards regression.

Results

Patients with a higher MPR showed a decreased vertebral fracture risk than those with a lower MPR (MPR 50 = hazard ratio [HR] 0.909; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.877–0.942 P < 0.001; MPR 70 = HR: 0.874, 95% CI: 0.838–0.913, P < 0.001; MPR 90 = HR: 0.822, 95% CI: 0.780–0.866, P < 0.001). MPR was associated with a decreased vertebral fracture risk in both groups with or without history of fracture. In the subgroup analysis, MPR was associated with a decreased vertebral fracture risk in women, in all ages, with or without T2DM, and with or without hypertension.

Conclusions

Higher MPR is associated with a lower vertebral fracture risk.

Estimating the future clinical and economic benefits of improving osteoporosis diagnosis and treatment among women in China: a simulation projection model from 2020 to 2040

Annual osteoporotic fractures is projected to increase by 135% from 6.9 M (2020) to 16.2 M (2040), increasing the economic burden by 121% from $29.9B (2020) to $65.9B (2040).

INTRODUCTION

Globally, aging populations drive significant increases in osteoporosis prevalence. In China, the number of women aged ≥ 65 years is expected to more than double from 2020 (91.5 M) to 2040 (183.6 M). Using a microsimulation model, impact of increased diagnosis and treatment of postmenopausal women (PMW) with osteoporosis on anticipated reduction in fractures and associated costs in China from 2020 to 2040 was projected.

METHODS

A microsimulation model was developed to project annual incidence and costs of osteoporotic fractures among PMW in China from 2020 to 2040. Fracture risk was estimated using the simplified Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX). Fractures estimates were based on annualized FRAX risk and impact of treatment. Published literature informed inputs for direct and indirect fracture costs, DXA screening costs, and treatment costs and efficacy. China's current screening and treatment rates were compared against 50% increases to (i) case finding (screening rate and subsequent treatment rate) and (ii) treatment rate among those at highest fracture risk.

RESULTS

From 2020 to 2040, 241.7 M osteoporotic fractures are projected to cost $997B. Increased treatment scenario prevented 24.6 M fractures and saved $56B. Increased case finding scenario prevented 26 M fractures and saved $61.7B.

CONCLUSION

Osteoporosis underdiagnosis and undertreatment among the aging Chinese population will considerably burden patients, caregivers, and society. Policy changes to increase screening and treatment rates may result in significant cost savings and clinical benefits.

Comparing the efficacies of bisphosphonates' therapies for osteoporosis persistence and compliance: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVES

Osteoporosis is the most prevalent metabolic bone disorder worldwide. This review was undertaken to compare the efficacies of bisphosphonates therapies for patient persistence and compliance for the treatment of osteoporosis.

METHODS

A systematic review was performed in accordance with the available reporting items. MEDLINE and Cochrane library databases were applied for literature searched up to January 2020. All major studies such as prospective, retrospective and reviews articles that examined patient persistence or compliance to bisphosphonates for osteoporosis were included.

RESULTS

Literature search found 656 relevant published reports, out of which 87 were included. The 10,712,176 osteoporotic patients were studied for patient persistence and 5,875,718 patients were studied for patient compliances. Analysis of all studied bisphosphonates showed almost similar patterns for patient persistence rates as it was decreased over the time following initial prescription but persistence length was found to be significantly high for alendronate therapy as compared to the other studied bisphosphonates (p<0.001), whereas the length of persistence of all other bisphosphonates (other than alendronate) were almost same (p>0.05). Analysis of patient compliances with etidronate therapy showed the highest percent medication possession ratio (MRP) at 12 months, followed by the MRPs of ibandronate, alendronate, risedronate, and clodronate.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first systematic review that shows the comparison of the efficiencies of bisphosphonates for patient persistence and compliance for the treatment of osteoporosis. The data showed that the length of patient persistence was highest for alendronate therapy, whereas patient compliance was highest for etidronate therapy for the treatment of osteoporosis.

Economic Evaluation of Oral Alendronate Therapy for Osteoporosis in Chinese Postmenopausal Women: The Impact of Medication Compliance and Persistence

Objective: Prevalence of osteoporosis in Chinese postmenopausal women has significantly increased over the past decade and oral bisphosphonates are the most potent antiresorptive drugs. The purpose of the present research was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of oral alendronate for individuals with osteoporosis. We also assessed the impact of medication compliance and persistence on economic outcomes of alendronate and potential economic evaluations of persistence-enhancing interventions.

Methods: We constructed an individual-level state-transition model to project health outcomes and costs of oral alendronate for Chinese postmenopausal osteoporotic women. The impact of medication compliance and persistence on economic evaluation was addressed in various scenario analyses. Model inputs were derived from clinical trials and published sources, where available. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were conducted to explore the impact of uncertainties and assumptions on the cost-effectiveness results.

Results: Compared with no treatment, alendronate treatment was associated with an additional 0.052 QALYs (quality-adjusted life-years) at an additional cost of USD 738, which yielded an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of USD 14,192.308/QALY. The ICER for the different scenarios (full compliance, full persistence, and both full persistence and full compliance) was USD 4,933.333/QALY, USD 3,006.849/QALY, and USD 2,049.822/QALY, respectively. One-way sensitivity analysis showed the ICER was most sensitive to variations in time horizon and residual effect. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis demonstrated that, at a willingness to pay of USD 29,340/QALY, the probability that oral alendronate therapy will be cost-effective is approximately 80%.

Conclusion: The findings support the view that oral alendronate is cost-effective for the treatment of osteoporotic fractures in Chinese postmenopausal women. Medication persistence is found to have a greater impact on cost-effectiveness than compliance and interventions to improve persistence to be an efficient use of resources.

Predicting the intervention threshold for initiating osteoporosis treatment among postmenopausal women in China: a cost-effectiveness analysis based on real-world data

This study built a micro-simulation Markov model to determine the treatment threshold of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women in Mainland China. Treatment with zoledronate is cost-effective when FRAX-based (Fracture risk assessment tool) fracture probability is over 7%.

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study is to estimate FRAX-based fracture probabilities in Mainland China using real-world data, at which intervention could be cost-effective.

METHODS

We developed a micro-simulation Markov model to capture osteoporosis states and relevant morbidities including hip fracture, vertebral fracture, and wrist fracture. Baseline characteristics including incidences of osteoporosis and distribution of risk factors were derived from the Peking Vertebral Fracture study, the largest prospective cohort study of postmenopausal women in Mainland China. We projected incidences of fractures and deaths by age groups under two treatment scenarios: 1) no treatment, and 2) zoledronate. We also projected total quality-adjusted life-years (QALY) and total costs including fracture management and osteoporosis drugs for cost-effectiveness analysis. Cost-effective intervention thresholds were calculated based on the Chinese FRAX model.

RESULTS

Treatment with zoledronate was cost-effective when the 10-year probability of major osteoporotic fracture based on FRAX was above 7%. The FRAX threshold increased by age from 51 to 65 years old, and decreased in elder age groups, ranging from 4% to 9%.

CONCLUSIONS

Using real-world data, our model indicated that widespread use of zoledronate was of both clinical and economic benefit among Chinese postmenopausal women. Using a FRAX-based intervention threshold of 7% with zoledronate should permit cost-effective access to therapy to patients and contribute to reducing the disease burden of osteoporosis in Mainland China.

Chinese patients' preference for pharmaceutical treatments of osteoporosis: a discrete choice experiment

While adherence to osteoporosis treatment is low, patients' preference for osteoporosis treatment is unknown in Chinese patients. Chinese patients are willing to receive treatments with higher clinical efficacy and lower out-of-pocket cost. In addition, annual intravenous infusion and 6-month subcutaneous injection are preferred over weekly oral tablets.

PURPOSE

This study was performed to elicit Chinese patients' preferences for osteoporosis medication treatment and to investigate the heterogeneities of the preferences in subgroups.

METHODS

A discrete choice experiment comprising 15 choice sets with 4 important attributes was conducted in a Chinese population at risk of osteoporotic fracture. The four attributes were treatment efficacy in reducing the risk of fracture, out-of-pocket cost per year, adverse effects of treatment, and mode of administration. The patients were asked to choose between two hypothetical treatments; they could also choose no treatment. Mixed logit models were used, and any observed heterogeneity in the patients' preferences was further assessed in subgroup analyses.

RESULTS

In total, 267 patients were analysed. On average, the patients preferred to receive treatment rather than no treatment. The patients preferred treatment with higher efficacy in preventing fracture and lower out-of-pocket cost. The least preferred adverse effect of medication was gastrointestinal disorders, followed by flu-like symptoms and finally skin reactions. The most preferred mode of administration was annual intravenous infusion, followed by 6-month subcutaneous injection, a weekly oral tablet, and daily nasal spray; daily oral tablets ranked as the least preferred mode of administration. The differences in the patients' preferences among all attributes were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Patients' age was found to contribute to the observed preference heterogeneity in most of the included attributes.

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed Chinese patients' preferences for osteoporosis treatments. Annual intravenous infusion and 6-month subcutaneous injection were significantly preferred over weekly oral tablets in this Chinese population.

Real-world persistence and adherence with oral bisphosphonates for osteoporosis: a systematic review

OBJECTIVES

This study examined patient adherence and persistence to oral bisphosphonates for the treatment of osteoporosis in real-world settings.

METHODS

A systematic review was completed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Allied and Complementary Medicine Database (AMED), Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE), Health Technology Assessment (HTA) and National Health Service Economic Evaluation Database NHS EED) databases were searched for studies published in English language up to April 2018. Prospective and retrospective observational studies that used prescription claim databases or hospital medical records to examine patient adherence and persistence to oral bisphosphonate treatment among adults with osteoporosis were included. The Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment scale (NOS) was used to assess the quality of included studies.

RESULTS

The search yielded 540 published studies, of which 89 were deemed relevant and were included in this review. The mean age of patients included within the studies ranged between 53 to 80.8 years, and the follow-up varied from 3 months to 14 years. The mean persistence of oral bisphosphonates for 6 months, 1 year and 2 years ranged from 34.8% to 71.3%, 17.7% to 74.8% and 12.9% to 72.0%, respectively. The mean medication possession ratio ranged from 28.2% to 84.5%, 23% to 50%, 27.2% to 46% over 1 year, 2 years and 3 years, respectively. All studies included scored between 6 to 8 out of 9 on the NOS. The determinants of adherence and persistence to oral bisphosphonates included geographic residence, marital status, tobacco use, educational status, income, hospitalisation, medication type and dosing frequency.

CONCLUSIONS

While a number of studies reported high levels of persistence and adherence, the findings of this review suggest that patient persistence and adherence with oral bisphosphonates medications was poor and reduced notably over time. Overall, adherence was suboptimal. To maximise adherence and persistence to oral bisphosphonates, it is important to consider possible determinants, including characteristics of the patients.

A systematic review of factors affecting medication adherence among patients with osteoporosis

The aim of this review was to identify factors that influence patients' adherence to anti-osteoporotic therapy. Factors identified that were associated with poorer medication adherence included polypharmacy, older age, and misconceptions about osteoporosis. Physicians need to be aware of these factors so as to optimize therapeutic outcomes for patients.

INTRODUCTION

To identify factors that influence patients' adherence to anti-osteoporotic therapy.

METHODS

A systematic review of literature was performed for articles published up till January 2018 using PubMed®, PsychINFO®, Embase®, and CINAHL®. Peer-reviewed articles which examined factors associated with anti-osteoporotic medication adherence were included. Classes of anti-osteoporotic therapy included bisphosphonates, parathyroid hormone-related analogue, denosumab, selective estrogen receptor modulators, estrogen/progestin therapy, calcitonin, and strontium ranelate. Meta-analyses, case reports/series, and other systematic reviews were excluded. Identified factors were classified using the World Health Organization's five dimensions of medication adherence (condition, patient, therapy, health-system, and socio-economic domains).

RESULTS

Of 2404 articles reviewed, 124 relevant articles were identified. The prevalence of medication adherence ranged from 12.9 to 95.4%. Twenty-four factors with 139 sub-factors were identified. Bisphosphonates were the most well-studied class of medication (n = 59, 48%). Condition-related factors that were associated with poorer medication adherence included polypharmacy, and history of falls was associated with higher medication adherence. Patient-related factors which were associated with poorer medication adherence included older age and misconceptions about osteoporosis while therapy-related factors included higher dosing frequency and medication side effects. Health system-based factors associated with poorer medication adherence included care under different medical specialties and lack of patient education. Socio-economic-related factors associated with poorer medication adherence included current smoker and lack of medical insurance coverage.

CONCLUSION

This review identified factors associated with poor medication adherence among osteoporotic patients. To optimize therapeutic outcomes for patients, clinicians need to be aware of the complexity of factors affecting medication adherence.

Compliance and persistence with oral bisphosphonates for the treatment of osteoporosis in female patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Background

Poor adherence with oral bisphosphonates (BPs) can mitigate their therapeutic benefit for osteoporosis and is a significant clinical burden. Most previous studies regarding adherence with oral BPs have focused on postmenopausal osteoporosis, but little attention has been given to patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Thus, we investigated compliance and persistence with oral BPs in the treatment of osteoporosis and analyzed risk factors for poor adherence in female patients with (RA) in real setting.

Methods

This is a retrospective longitudinal study including 396 female patients with RA in whom oral BPs were newly initiated from Aug 2004 to Aug 2014 at a university rheumatology center in South Korea. Compliance was quantified using the 1-year medication possession ratio (MPR), while persistence was defined as duration from the initiation to the end of BPs therapy without interruption exceeding 56 days. Seropositve RA was defined as having a positive test result for the presence of either rheumatoid factor or anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody.

Results

Of 396 RA patients, 221 (55.8%) were prescribed risedronate 35 mg weekly; 17 (4.3%) received alendronate 70 mg weekly; and 158 (39.9%) received ibandronate 150 mg monthly. The 1-year MPR was 70.1% and the proportion of RA patients with the 1-year MPR ≥ 0.8 was 60.1%. A total of 274 (69.2%) patients discontinued oral BPs during the study period and persistence with BPs was 63.3% at 1 year, 50.7% at 2 years and 33.3% at 3 years. The most common cause of non-persistence was adverse events (47.5%), followed by poor health literacy (40.5%) and cost (12%). Both compliance and persistence with monthly oral BPs were significantly lower than those with weekly regimens (OR: 2.48, 95% CI: 1.59–3.89, P < 0.001 and HR: 2.19, 95% CI: 1.69–2.83, P < 0.001, respectively). Additionally, patients with seropositive RA showed better compliance and persistence with BPs compared with their seronegative counterparts.

Conclusions

Compliance and persistence with oral BPs in RA patients were suboptimal in real practice, thereby limiting the efficacy of osteoporosis treatment. Extending the dosing interval of BPs may improve medication adherence in RA patients.

Screening for osteoporosis in Chinese post-menopausal women: a health economic modelling study

Screening and appropriate treatment for osteoporosis has been proven to be cost-effective in many populations; however, it is not clear in the Chinese population. Simulations using a validated health economics model suggest that screening for osteoporosis in Chinese women is cost-effective and may even be cost-saving in Chinese post-menopausal women.

INTRODUCTION

This study aimed at determining the cost-effectiveness of osteoporosis screening strategies in post-menopausal Chinese women.

METHODS

A validated state-transition microsimulation model with a lifetime horizon was used to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of different screening strategies with treatment of alendronate compared with current osteoporosis management in China. Osteoporosis screening strategies assessed were (1) universal screening with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) alone; (2) Osteoporosis Self-Assessment Tool for Asians (OSTA) + DXA; and (3) quantitative ultrasound (QUS) + DXA with rescreening at 2, 5 or 10-year intervals for patients screened negative by DXA. The study was performed from the Chinese healthcare payer's perspective. All model inputs were retrieved from publically available literature. Uncertainties were addressed by one-way and probabilistic sensitivity analysis.

RESULTS

Screening strategies all improved clinical outcomes at increased costs, and each were cost-effective compared with no screening in women aged 55 years given the Chinese willingness-to-pay threshold of USD 20,000 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained. Pre-screening with QUS and subsequent DXA screening if the QUS T-score ≤ -0.5 with a 2-year rescreening interval was the most cost-effective strategy with the highest probability of being cost-effective across all non-dominated strategies. Screening strategies were cost-saving if screenings were initiated from age 65 years. One-way sensitivity analyses indicated that the results were robust.

CONCLUSIONS

Pre-screening with QUS with subsequent DXA screening if the QUS T-score ≤ -0.5 with a 2-year rescreening interval in the Chinese women starting at age 55 is the most cost-effective. In addition, screening and treatment strategies are cost-saving if the screening initiation age is greater than 65 years.

Cost-effectiveness of raloxifene in the treatment of osteoporosis in Chinese postmenopausal women: impact of medication persistence and adherence

AIMS

Raloxifene treatment of osteoporotic fractures is clinically effective, but economic evidence in support of raloxifene reimbursement is lacking in the People's Republic of China. We aimed at evaluating the cost-effectiveness of raloxifene in the treatment of osteoporotic fractures using an osteoporosis health economic model. We also assessed the impact of medication persistence and adherence on clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness of raloxifene.

METHODS

We used a previously developed and validated osteoporosis state-transition microsimulation model to compare treatment with raloxifene with current practices of osteoporotic fracture treatment (conventional treatment) from the health care payer's perspective. A Monte Carlo probabilistic sensitivity analysis with microsimulations was conducted. The impact of medication persistence and adherence on clinical outcomes and the cost-effectiveness of raloxifene was addressed in sensitivity analyses. The simulated patients used in the model's initial state were 65-year-old postmenopausal Chinese women with osteoporosis (but without previous fractures), simulated using a 1-year cycle length until all patients had died. Costs were presented in 2015 US dollars (USD), and costs and effectiveness were discounted at 3% annually. The willingness-to-pay threshold was set at USD 20,000 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained.

RESULTS

Treatment with raloxifene improved clinical effectiveness by 0.006 QALY, with additional costs of USD 221 compared with conventional treatment. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was USD 36,891 per QALY gained. The cost-effectiveness decision did not change in most of the one-way sensitivity analyses. With full raloxifene persistence and adherence, average effectiveness improved compared with the real-world scenario, and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was USD 40,948 per QALY gained compared with conventional treatment.

CONCLUSION

Given the willingness-to-pay threshold, raloxifene treatment was not cost-effective for treatment of osteoporotic fractures in postmenopausal Chinese women. Medication persistence and adherence had a great impact on clinical- and cost-effectiveness, and therefore should be incorporated in future pharmacoeconomic studies of osteoporosis interventions.

Persistence with denosumab and persistence with oral bisphosphonates for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis: a retrospective, observational study, and a meta-analysis

The objectives of this study were to estimate persistence with denosumab and put these results in context by conducting a review of persistence with oral bisphosphonates. Persistence with denosumab was found to be higher than with oral bisphosphonates.

PURPOSE

This study had two objectives: to analyse persistence in Swedish women initiating denosumab for treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO) and to put these findings in context by conducting a literature review and meta-analysis of persistence data for oral bisphosphonates.

METHODS

The study used the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register and included women aged at least 50 years initiating denosumab between May 2010 and July 2012. One injection of denosumab was defined as 6-month persistence. Women were considered persistent for another 6 months if they filled their next prescription within 6 months + 56 days and survival analysis applied to the data. A literature search was conducted in PubMed to identify retrospective studies of persistence with oral bisphosphonates and pooled persistence estimates were calculated using a random-effects model.

RESULTS

The study identified 2,315 women who were incident denosumab users. Mean age was 74 years and 61% had been previously treated for PMO. At 12 and 24 months, persistence with denosumab was 83% (95% CI, 81-84%) and 62% (95% CI, 60-65%), respectively. The literature search identified 40 articles for inclusion in the meta-analysis. At 12 and 24 months, persistence with oral bisphosphonates ranged from 10% to 78% and from 16% to 46%, with pooled estimates of 45% and 30%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

These data from the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register and literature review suggest that persistence was higher with denosumab than with oral bisphosphonates.

Screening for and treatment of osteoporosis: construction and validation of a state-transition microsimulation cost-effectiveness model

This study aimed to document and validate a new cost-effectiveness model of osteoporosis screening and treatment strategies. The state-transition microsimulation model demonstrates strong internal and external validity. It is an important tool for researchers and policy makers to test the cost-effectiveness of osteoporosis screening and treatment strategies.

INTRODUCTION

The objective of this study was to document and validate a new cost-effectiveness model of screening for and treatment of osteoporosis.

METHODS

A state-transition microsimulation model using a lifetime horizon was constructed with seven Markov states (no history of fractures, hip fracture, vertebral fracture, wrist fracture, other fracture, postfracture state, and death) describing the most important clinical outcomes of osteoporotic fractures. Tracker variables were used to record patients' history, such as fracture events, duration of treatment, and time since last screening. The model was validated for Chinese postmenopausal women receiving screening and treatment versus no screening. Goodness-of-fit analyses were performed for internal and external validation. External validity was tested by comparing life expectancy, osteoporosis prevalence rate, and lifetime and 10-year fracture risks with published data not used in the model.

RESULTS

The model represents major clinical facets of osteoporosis-related conditions. Age-specific hip, vertebral, and wrist fracture incidence rates were accurately reproduced (the regression line slope was 0.996, R(2) = 0.99). The changes in costs, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness were consistent with changes in both one-way and probabilistic sensitivity analysis. The model predicted life expectancy and 10-year any major osteoporotic fracture risk at the age of 65 of 19.01 years and 13.7%, respectively. The lifetime hip, clinical vertebral, and wrist fracture risks at age 50 were 7.9, 29.8, and 18.7% respectively, all consistent with reported data.

CONCLUSIONS

Our model demonstrated good internal and external validity, ensuring it can be confidently applied in economic evaluations of osteoporosis screening and treatment strategies.