Baseline bone turnover marker levels can predict change in bone mineral density during antiresorptive treatment in osteoporotic patients: the Copenhagen bone turnover marker study

Anti-resorptive osteoporosis treatment might be more effective in patients with high bone turnover. In this registry study including clinical data, high pre-treatment bone turnover measured with biochemical markers was correlated with higher bone mineral density increases. Bone turnover markers may be useful tools to identify patients benefitting most from anti-resorptive treatment.

INTRODUCTION

In randomized, controlled trials of bisphosphonates, high pre-treatment levels of bone turnover markers (BTM) were associated with a larger increase in bone mineral density (BMD). The purpose of this study was to examine this correlation in a real-world setting.

METHODS

In this registry-based cohort study of osteoporosis patients (n = 158) receiving antiresorptive therapy, the association between pre-treatment levels of plasma C-telopeptide of type I Collagen (CTX) and/or N-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PINP) and change in bone mineral density (BMD) at lumbar spine, total hip, and femoral neck upon treatment was examined. Patients were grouped according to their pre-treatment BTM levels, defined as values above and below the geometric mean for premenopausal women.

RESULTS

Pre-treatment CTX correlated with annual increase in total hip BMD, where patients with CTX above the geometric mean experienced a larger annual increase in BMD (p = 0.008) than patients with CTX below the geometric mean. The numerical pre-treatment level of CTX showed a similar correlation at all three skeletal sites (total hip (p = 0.03), femoral neck (p = 0.04), and lumbar spine (p = 0.0003)). A similar association was found for PINP where pre-treatment levels of PINP above the geometric mean correlated with a larger annual increase in BMD for total hip (p = 0.02) and lumbar spine (p = 0.006).

CONCLUSION

Measurement of pre-treatment BTM levels predicts osteoporosis patients' response to antiresorptive treatment. Patients with high pre-treatment levels of CTX and/or PINP benefit more from antiresorptive treatment with larger increases in BMD than patients with lower pre-treatment levels.

Comparative risk of acute myocardial infarction for anti-osteoporosis drugs in primary care: a meta-analysis of propensity-matched cohort findings from the UK Clinical Practice Research Database and the Catalan SIDIAP Database

The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of acute myocardial infarction in patients taking osteoporosis medication. Patients were taken from the SIDIAP or CPRD database and were matched using propensity scores. Patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease taking SERMs were at an increased risk. The results favour the cardiovascular safety of alendronate as a first-line choice for osteoporosis treatment.

INTRODUCTION

This study aims to evaluate the comparative safety of anti-osteoporosis drugs based on the observed risk of acute myocardial infarction while on treatment in a primary care setting.

METHODS

This is a propensity-matched cohort study and meta-analysis. This study was conducted in two primary care record databases covering UK NHS (CPRD) and Catalan healthcare (SIDIAP) patients during 1995-2014 and 2006-2014, respectively. The outcome was acute myocardial infarction while on treatment. Users of alendronate (reference group) were compared to those of (1) other oral bisphosphonates (OBP), (2) strontium ranelate (SR), and (3) selective oestrogen receptor modulator (SERM), after matching on baseline characteristics (socio-demographics, fracture risk factors, comorbidities, and concomitant drug use) using propensity scores. Multiple imputation was used to handle missing data on confounders and competing risk modelling for the calculation of relative risk (sub-distribution hazard ratios (SHR)) according to therapy. Country-specific data were analysed individually and meta-analysed.

RESULTS

A 10% increased risk of acute myocardial infarction was found in users of other bisphosphonates as compared to alendronate users within CPRD. The meta-analysis of CPRD and SIDIAP results showed a 9% increased risk in users of other bisphosphonate as compared to alendronate users. Sensitivity analysis showed SERMS users with diabetes and chronic kidney disease were at an elevated risk.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides additional data on the risk of acute myocardial infarction in patients receiving osteoporosis treatment. The results favour the cardiovascular safety of alendronate as a first-line choice for osteoporosis treatment.

Is it time to consider population screening for fracture risk in postmenopausal women? A position paper from the International Osteoporosis Foundation Epidemiology/Quality of Life Working Group

The IOF Epidemiology and Quality of Life Working Group has reviewed the potential role of population screening for high hip fracture risk against well-established criteria. The report concludes that such an approach should strongly be considered in many health care systems to reduce the burden of hip fractures.

INTRODUCTION

The burden of long-term osteoporosis management falls on primary care in most healthcare systems. However, a wide and stable treatment gap exists in many such settings; most of which appears to be secondary to a lack of awareness of fracture risk. Screening is a public health measure for the purpose of identifying individuals who are likely to benefit from further investigations and/or treatment to reduce the risk of a disease or its complications. The purpose of this report was to review the evidence for a potential screening programme to identify postmenopausal women at increased risk of hip fracture.

METHODS

The approach took well-established criteria for the development of a screening program, adapted by the UK National Screening Committee, and sought the opinion of 20 members of the International Osteoporosis Foundation's Working Group on Epidemiology and Quality of Life as to whether each criterion was met (yes, partial or no). For each criterion, the evidence base was then reviewed and summarized.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

The report concludes that evidence supports the proposal that screening for high fracture risk in primary care should strongly be considered for incorporation into many health care systems to reduce the burden of fractures, particularly hip fractures. The key remaining hurdles to overcome are engagement with primary care healthcare professionals, and the implementation of systems that facilitate and maintain the screening program.

Utility of PINP to monitor osteoporosis treatment in primary care, the POSE study (PINP and Osteoporosis in Sheffield Evaluation)

PURPOSE

In Sheffield (UK), we introduced the PINP monitoring algorithm for the management of osteoporosis treatment delivered in primary care. Our aims were to evaluate whether this algorithm was associated with better osteoporosis outcomes and was cost-effective compared to standard care.

METHODS

Inclusion criteria were referral from Sheffield GPs, BMD scans performed between 2012 and 2013 and a report advising initiation of oral bisphosphonate and PINP monitoring. 906 patients were identified and retrospectively divided into Group A (intention to monitor, with baseline PINP, n = 588) and Group B (no intention to monitor, without baseline PINP, n = 318). The model described by Davis and colleagues was used to extrapolate life-time costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs).

RESULTS

No differences were found in baseline characteristics between groups (age, gender, BMI, BMD and major risk factors for fractures). More patients in Group A started oral treatment (77.4% vs 49.1%; p < 0.001), but there were no differences between groups in the presence of a gap in treatment >3 months or in treatment duration. Patients in Group A were more likely to have follow-up DXA scan at 4-6 years from baseline (46.9% vs 29.2%; p < 0.000) and had a greater increase in total hip BMD (+2.74% vs + 0.42%; p value = 0.003). Fewer new fractures occurred in Group A but this was not statistically significant, but the numbers of fractures were small. Patients in Group A were more likely to change management (p = 0.005) including switching to zoledronate (p = 0.03). The PINP measurement and increased prescribing in Group A resulted in increases in both costs (£30.19) and QALYs (0.0039) relative to Group B, giving an incremental cost effectiveness ratio (ICER) of £7660 in the probabilistic sensitivity analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients monitored with PINP are more likely to start oral bisphosphonate treatment, switch to zoledronate, have follow-up DXA scans and a greater increase of hip BMD. PINP monitoring has the potential to be cost-effective in a UK NHS setting given that interventions with an ICER under £20,000 are generally considered to be cost-effective.

The treatment gap after major osteoporotic fractures in Denmark 2005-2014: a combined analysis including both prescription-based and hospital-administered anti-osteoporosis medications

This study demonstrates a substantial and persistent anti-osteoporosis treatment gap in men and women ≥50 years old who sustained major osteoporotic fracture(s) between 2005 and 2014 in Denmark. This was not substantially reduced by including hospital-administered anti-osteoporosis treatments. Strengthened post-fracture organization of care and secondary fracture prevention is highly needed.

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Danish anti-osteoporosis treatment gap from 2005 to 2014 in patients sustaining a major osteoporotic fracture (MOF), and to assess the impact of including hospital-administered anti-osteoporosis medications (AOM) on the treatment gap among these patients.

METHODS

In this retrospective, registry-based study, we included men and women aged 50 years or older and living in Denmark, who sustained at least one MOF between 2005 and 2014. We applied a repeated cross-sectional design to generate cohorts of patients sustaining a first MOF, hip, vertebral, humerus, or forearm fracture, respectively, within each calendar year. We evaluated the treatment gap as the proportion of patients within each cohort not receiving treatment with AOM within 1 year of the fracture. Hospital-administered AOM was identified by SKS code.

RESULTS

The treatment gap among MOF patients decreased from 85% in 2005 to 79% in 2014. The gap was smaller among hip and vertebral fracture patients as compared to humerus and forearm fracture patients, and it was smaller in women than in men. The use of hospital-administered AOM was relatively uncommon, with a maximum of 0.9% of MOF patients initiating hospital-administered AOM (in 2012). We observed substantial variations in this proportion between fracture types and gender. Hospital-administered AOM was most commonly used among vertebral fracture patients.

CONCLUSION

A significant treatment gap among patients sustaining a major osteoporotic fracture was present throughout our analysis, and including hospital-administered AOM did not significantly improve the treatment gap assessment. Improved secondary fracture prevention is urgently needed.

Does treatment with bisphosphonates protect against fractures in real life? The HUNT study, Norway

Bisphosphonates reduce fractures in randomized controlled trials (RCT); however, there is less information from real life. In our population including 14,990 women and 13,239 men, use of bisphosphonates reduced risk of fractures in hip and forearm in women. The magnitude of the effect was comparable to results from RCT.

INTRODUCTION

The objective was to examine if treatment with bisphosphonates (BPs) was associated with reduced risk of fractures in the hip and forearm in women and men in the general population.

METHODS

In a cohort study based on data from the third wave of the population-based HUNT Study (HUNT3), the fracture registry in Nord-Trøndelag, and the Norwegian Prescription Database, 14,990 women and 13,239 men 50-85 years were followed from the date of participating in HUNT3 (2006-2008) until the date of first fracture in the hip or forearm, death, or end of study (31 December 2012). Hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals for hip and forearm fracture according to use of BPs were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models with time-dependent exposure. Adjustment for individual FRAX® fracture risk assessment scores was included.

RESULTS

BPs, predominantly alendronate, were used by 9.4% of the women and 1.5% of the men. During a median of 5.2 years of follow-up, 265 women and 133 men had a hip fracture, and 662 women and 127 men had a forearm fracture. Compared with non-users of BPs, the hazard ratios with 95% confidence interval for a fracture among users of BPs adjusted for age and FRAX® were 0.67 (0.52-0.86) for women and 1.13 (0.50-2.57) for men. Among users of glucocorticoids, the corresponding figures were 0.35 (0.19-0.66) and 1.16 (0.33-4.09), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Use of BPs was associated with reduced risk of fractures in hip and forearm in women, and the magnitude of effect is comparable to results from RCTs.

Secular trends in the initiation of therapy in secondary fracture prevention in Europe: a multi-national cohort study including data from Denmark, Catalonia, and the United Kingdom

This paper demonstrates a large post-fracture anti-osteoporosis treatment gap in the period 2005 to 2015. The gap was stable in Denmark at around 88-90%, increased in Catalonia from 80 to 88%, and started to increase in the UK towards the end of our study. Improved post-fracture care is needed.

INTRODUCTION

Patients experiencing a fragility fracture are at high risk of subsequent fractures, particularly within the first 2 years after the fracture. Previous studies have demonstrated that only a small proportion of fracture patients initiate therapy with an anti-osteoporotic medication (AOM), despite the proven fracture risk reduction of such therapies. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the changes in this post-fracture treatment gap across three different countries from 2005 to 2015.

METHODS

This analysis, which is part of a multinational cohort study, included men and women, aged 50 years or older, sustaining a first incident fragility fracture. Using routinely collected patient data from three administrative health databases covering Catalonia, Denmark, and the United Kingdom, we estimated the treatment gap as the proportion of patients not treated with AOM within 1 year of their first incident fracture.

RESULTS

A total of 648,369 fracture patients were included. Mean age 70.2-78.9 years; 22.2-31.7% were men. In Denmark, the treatment gap was stable at approximately 88-90% throughout the 2005 to 2015 time period. In Catalonia, the treatment gap increased from 80 to 88%. In the UK, an initially decreasing treatment gap-though never smaller than 63%-was replaced by an increasing gap towards the end of our study. The gap was more pronounced in men than in women.

CONCLUSION

Despite repeated calls for improved secondary fracture prevention, an unacceptably large treatment gap remains, with time trends indicating that the problem may be getting worse in recent years.

Proton pump inhibitors and fracture risk. The HUNT study, Norway

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) have been linked to increased risk of fracture; the data have, however, been diverging. We did not find any increased risk of fractures among users of PPIs in a Norwegian population of 15,017 women and 13,241 men aged 50-85 years with detailed information about lifestyle and comorbidity.

INTRODUCTION

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are widely prescribed and have been linked to increased risk of fracture.

METHODS

We used data from the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT3), The Fracture registry in Nord-Trøndelag, and the Norwegian Prescription Database, including 15,017 women and 13,241 men aged 50-85 years. The study population was followed from the date of participating in HUNT3 (2006-2008) until the date of first fracture (forearm or hip), death, or end of study (31 December 2012). The Cox proportional hazards model with time-dependent exposure to PPIs was applied, and each individual was considered as unexposed until the first prescriptions was filled. To be included, the prescription of PPIs should minimum be equivalent to 90 defined daily doses (DDD) in the period. Individuals were defined as exposed until 6 months after end of drug supply.

RESULTS

The proportion of women and men using PPIs was 17.9% and 15.5%, respectively. During a median of 5.2 years follow-up, 266 women and 134 men had a first hip fracture and 662 women and 127 men, a first forearm fracture. The combined rate/1000 patient-years for forearm and hip fractures in women was 49.2 for users of PPIs compared with 64.1 among non-users; for men 18.6 and 19.8, respectively. The hazard ratios with 95% confidence interval for the first forearm or hip fracture among users of PPIs in the age-adjusted analysis were 0.82 (0.67-1.01) for women and 1.05 (0.72-1.52) for men. Adjusting for age, use of anti-osteoporotic drugs, and FRAX, the HR declined to 0.80 (0.65-0.98) in women and 1.00 (0.69-1.45) in men.

CONCLUSIONS

Use of PPIs was not associated with an increased risk of fractures.

Determinants, consequences and potential solutions to poor adherence to anti-osteoporosis treatment: results of an expert group meeting organized by the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (ESCEO) and the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF)

Many patients at increased risk of fractures do not take their medication appropriately, resulting in a substantial decrease in the benefits of drug therapy. Improving medication adherence is urgently needed but remains laborious, given the numerous and multidimensional reasons for non-adherence, suggesting the need for measurement-guided, multifactorial and individualized solutions.

INTRODUCTION

Poor adherence to medications is a major challenge in the treatment of osteoporosis. This paper aimed to provide an overview of the consequences, determinants and potential solutions to poor adherence and persistence to osteoporosis medication.

METHODS

A working group was organized by the European Society on Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal diseases (ESCEO) to review consequences, determinants and potential solutions to adherence and to make recommendations for practice and further research. A systematic literature review and a face-to-face experts meeting were undertaken.

RESULTS

Medication non-adherence is associated with increased risk of fractures, leading to a substantial decrease in the clinical and economic benefits of drug therapy. Reasons for non-adherence are numerous and multidimensional for each patient, depending on the interplay of multiple factors, suggesting the need for multifactorial and individualized solutions. Few interventions have been shown to improve adherence or persistence to osteoporosis treatment. Promising actions include patient education with counselling, adherence monitoring with feedback and dose simplification including flexible dosing regimen. Recommendations for practice and further research were also provided. To adequately manage adherence, it is important to (1) understand the problem (initiation, implementation and/or persistence), (2) to measure adherence and (3) to identify the reason of non-adherence and fix it.

CONCLUSION

These recommendations are intended for clinicians to manage adherence of their patients and to researchers and policy makers to design, facilitate and appropriately use adherence interventions.

P4757Vitamin k antagonists are associated with higher risk of osteoporotic fractures compared to non-vitamin k antagonist oral anticoagulants among atrial fibrillation patients: a nationwide cohort study

Background/Introduction

Osteoporotic fractures are associated with high mortality and reduced life quality in an elderly population. Several studies report an increased risk of fractures among patients treated with oral anticoagulants (OAC), however, only sparse research has been made to clarify the difference between treatment with vitamin K antagonists (VKA) and non-VKA oral anticoagulants (NOACs) regarding the risk of osteoporotic fractures.

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk of osteoporotic fractures among patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) in long-term VKA or NOAC treatment.

Methods

Patients with AF were identified using Danish national registries and were included when they had undergone 180 days OAC treatment, and only if they had no prior use of osteoporosis medication. The study period was from 1 January 2013 until 30 June 2017, and patients were followed for 2 years, or until death, outcome or emigration. Outcomes were hip fracture, major osteoporotic fracture, any fracture, initiation of osteoporosis medication, and a combined endpoint. G-formula was used to determine standardized absolute risk, and multiple covariate adjusted Cox regressions were used to calculate hazard ratios (HR).

Results

Overall, 37,350 patients with AF were included; 32.6% received VKA treatment (median age 72 years, 61.8% men) and 67.4% received NOAC treatment (median age 73 years, 55.9% men). The standardized absolute 2-year risk of any fracture was low among NOAC treated patients (3.1%; 95% CI: 2.9% to 3.3%), and among VKA treated patients (3.8%; 95% CI: 3.4% to 4.2%).

NOAC was associated with a significantly lower relative risk of any fracture (HR: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.74 to 0.97), of major osteoporotic fractures (HR: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.72 to 0.99), and of initiating osteoporotic medication (HR: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.71 to 0.95). A combined endpoint showed that patients treated with NOAC had a significantly lower risk of suffering from any fracture or initiating osteoporosis medication (HR: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.76 to 0.93).

Adjusted relative two-year risks

Conclusion

In a nationwide population, the absolute risk of osteoporotic fractures was low among AF patients on OAC, but NOAC was associated with a significantly lower risk of osteoporotic fractures compared to VKA.

Acknowledgement/Funding

Scholarship from The Copenhagen University Hospital Herlev and Gentofte

Fracture risk following intermission of osteoporosis therapy

Given the widespread practice of recommending drug holidays, we reviewed the impact of medication discontinuation of two common anti-osteoporosis therapies (bisphosphonates and denosumab). Trial evidence suggests the risk of new clinical fractures, and vertebral fracture increases when osteoporosis treatment with bisphosphonates or denosumab is stopped.

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this paper was to review the available literature to assess what evidence exists to inform clinical decision-making with regard to drug holidays following treatment with bisphosphonates (BiP) or denosumab.

METHODS

Systematic review.

RESULTS

Differing pharmacokinetics lead to varying outcomes on stopping therapy. Prospective and retrospective analyses report that the risk of new clinical fractures was 20-40% higher in subjects who stopped BiP treatment, and vertebral fracture risk was approximately doubled. Rapid bone loss has been well described following denosumab discontinuation with an incidence of multiple vertebral fractures around 5%. Studies have not identified risk factors for fracture after stopping treatment other than those that provide an indication for treatment (e.g. prior fracture and low BMD). Studies that considered long-term continuation did not identify increased fracture risk, and reported only very low rates of adverse skeletal events such as atypical femoral fracture.

CONCLUSIONS

The view that patients on long-term treatment with bisphosphonates or denosumab should always be offered a drug holiday is not supported by the existing evidence. Different pharmacokinetic properties for different therapies require different strategies to manage drug intermission. In contrast, long-term treatment with anti-resorptives is not associated with increased risk of fragility fractures and skeletal adverse events remain rare.

Long term time trends in use of medications associated with risk of developing osteoporosis: Nationwide data for Denmark from 1999 to 2016

PURPOSE

To evaluate the development in the use of medications associated with an increased risk of developing osteoporosis over the time period from 1999 to 2016.

METHODS

We extracted data on total sale, sales rate and usage rate for the medications of interest from www.medstat.dk, which is an online, open-source database reporting the monthly sale of both over-the-counter and prescription-based medications in Denmark. The dataset covers both the primary and secondary health sectors.

RESULTS

Most medications exhibited an increasing use from 1999 to 2016, though some had stable (e.g. glucocorticoids) or declining use. Notably, some medications showed widespread and increasing use, including proton pump inhibitors (PPI), selective serotonine reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and venlafaxine. For PPI, sales rates increased by 461% from 1999 to 2016, with 9% of men and 11.4% of women filling at least one prescription in 2016. The use of SSRI and venlafaxine increased by 114% and 613%, respectively. This was more pronounced in women and for SSRI also in the elderly (80+ years). The sale of aromatase inhibitors was moderate (1-10 DDD per 1000 capita per day) in 2016, yet grew by 2400% from 1999, almost exclusively in women aged 80 years or older.

CONCLUSION

We found a trend of increasing use from 1999 to 2016 of most medications with a potential for causing osteoporosis, often most pronounced in fracture risk groups (postmenopausal women and/or in the elderly). This may play a clinically relevant role in both current and future causality of osteoporosis.

Diagnosis and management of bone fragility in diabetes: an emerging challenge

Fragility fractures are increasingly recognized as a complication of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, with fracture risk that increases with disease duration and poor glycemic control. Yet the identification and management of fracture risk in these patients remains challenging. This review explores the clinical characteristics of bone fragility in adults with diabetes and highlights recent studies that have evaluated bone mineral density (BMD), bone microstructure and material properties, biochemical markers, and fracture prediction algorithms (i.e., FRAX) in these patients. It further reviews the impact of diabetes drugs on bone as well as the efficacy of osteoporosis treatments in this population. We finally propose an algorithm for the identification and management of diabetic patients at increased fracture risk.

Social inequality and fractures-secular trends in the Danish population: a case-control study

We examined links between markers of social inequality and fracture risk in the Danish population, demonstrating that high income and being married are associated with a significantly lower risk.

INTRODUCTION

We explored whether the risk of hip, humerus, and wrist fracture was associated with markers of inequality using data from Danish health registries.

METHODS

All patients 50 years or older with a primary hip (ICD10 S720, S721, S722, and S729) humerus (ICD10 S422, S423, S424, S425, S426, and S427), or wrist (ICD10: S52) fracture were identified from 1/1/1995 to 31/12/2011. Fracture patients were matched 1:1 by age, sex, and year of fracture, to a non-fracture control. Markers of inequality were as follows: income (fifths); marital status (married, divorced, widowed, or unmarried); area of residence (remote, rural, intermediate, or urban). Conditional logistic regression was used to investigate associations between these exposures, and risk of fracture, adjusting for covariates (smoking, alcohol, and Charlson co-morbidity). Interactions were fitted between exposure and covariates where appropriate.

RESULTS

A total of 189,838 fracture patients (37,500 hip, 45,602 humerus, and 106,736 wrist) and 189,838 controls were included. Mean age was 73.9 years (hip), 67.5 years (humerus), and 65.3 years (wrist). High income (5th quintile) was significantly associated with a lower odds ratio of all three fractures, compared to average income (3rd quintile). Married subjects had a significantly decreased odds ratio across all three fractures. However, no overall secular difference was observed regarding the influence of the markers of inequality.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, we have demonstrated important, stable associations between social inequality, assessed using income, marital status, and area of residence, and fracture at the population level. These findings can inform approaches to healthcare, and suggest that much thought should be given to novel interventions aimed especially at those living alone, and ideally societal measures to reduce social inequality.

Anti-osteoporosis drug use: too little, too much, or just right? The HUNT study, Norway

Use of anti-osteoporotic drugs (AODs) was examined in a Norwegian population 50-85 years. Among them with Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) score for major osteoporotic fracture ≥ 20, 25% of the women and 17% of the men received AODs. The strongest predictors for AODs were high age in women and use of glucocorticoids among men.

INTRODUCTION

To examine the use of anti-osteoporotic drugs (AODs) and to identify predictors for prescriptions.

METHODS

Data were obtained from the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT3) performed in 2006-2008 and the Norwegian Prescription Database, including 15,075 women and 13,386 men aged 50-85 years. Bone mineral density (BMD) in the femoral neck was measured in a subgroup of 4538 women and 2322 men. High fracture risk was defined as a FRAX score for major osteoporotic fracture (MOF) ≥ 20%; in the subgroup with BMD, high risk was in addition defined as FRAX_MOF ≥ 20% or T-score ≤ - 2.5. Hazard ratios (HRs) for predictors of incident use of AODs within 2 years after HUNT3 were estimated by Cox' proportional hazards model.

RESULTS

Among individuals with FRAX MOF ≥ 20%, 25% of the women and 17% of the men were treated with AODs. Among those with FRAX MOF < 20%, 3% and 1% were treated, respectively. In the subgroup with BMD measurement, 24% of the women and 16% of the men at high risk of fractures were treated, compared to 3 and 1% in women and men not fulfilling the criteria. In women, high age was the strongest predictor for treatment (HR 3.84: 95% confidence interval 2.81-5.24), followed by use of glucocorticoids (GCs) (2.68:1.84-3.89). In men, predictors were use of GCs (5.28: 2.70-10.35) followed by multimorbidity (3.16:1.31-7.63). In the subgroup with BMD, T-score ≤ - 2.5 was the strongest predictor (women 3.98:2.67-5.89; men 13.31:6.17-28.74).

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests an undertreatment of AODs in individuals at high risk of fracture.

Danish, national cross-sectional observational study on the prevalence of prior major osteoporotic fractures in adults presenting with hip fracture-limitations and scope for fracture liaison services in prevention of hip fracture

Fracture liaison services prevent hip fractures by identifying other osteoporotic fractures that generally debut at a younger age. However, this study showed that a minority of hip fracture patients are already known to the health services through having had prior osteoporotic fractures. Identification of vertebral fractures in particular is lacking.

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of prior major osteoporotic fractures (MOF) in the prior 10 years preceding hip fracture in order to provide information about the potential for prevention of hip fractures by fracture liaison services (FLS).

METHODS

We included all patients aged 50+ with surgically treated hip fracture in one calendar year (N = 8158) in the Danish Hospital Discharge Register. Prior fractures were identified using the same data source. A prior hip fracture was only included as a prior fracture if occurring more than 6 months before the present fracture.

RESULTS

A total of 28% of hip fracture patients (32% of women and 19% of men) had at least one recognized MOF in the preceding 10 years. Forearm and humerus fractures constituted > 70% of prior MOF. In both genders, vertebral fractures only represented a small percentage (2.6%) of previously recognized MOF. Men were less likely than women to have experienced a prior MOF, chiefly due to fewer forearm and humerus fractures.

CONCLUSION

The majority of hip fractures-and in particular hip fractures in men-occur without a previously treated MOF that could have resulted in early detection and treatment of osteoporosis. With current treatment modalities, a maximum of one in six hip fractures in Denmark can be prevented through FLS initiatives. Identification of patients with vertebral fractures for assessment and treatment is therefore critical for successful prevention of hip fractures using this strategy.

The risk of osteoporosis in oral steroid treatment for nasal polyposis: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Systemic glucocorticoids are often used in the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), and osteoporosis is a well-known complication to steroid treatment, associated with significant morbidity. Nevertheless, the burden of steroid induced osteoporosis is unknown in patients with CRSwNP. We aimed to assess the risk of acquiring osteoporosis caused by oral steroids in patients with CRSwNP, and provide recommendations on future research and guidelines.

METHODOLOGY

Cochrane Review Database, EMBASE, Ovid Medline, and PubMed were searched for studies including adult patients with CRSwNP treated with oral steroids. Outcomes were Bone Mineral Density (BMD) and prevalence of fractures in relation to dose and duration of oral steroids. In addition, we reviewed general guidelines for treatment with oral steroids.

RESULTS

We identified two studies (n=243) that met the inclusion criteria. Doses and durations of oral steroids were over 5 mg/day for more than 3 months and 1 mg/kg body weight/day for 6 to 10 days for 4 or more courses/year. The prevalence of low bone mass was 39% and 61%, respectively. It was not possible to quantify the overall risk of osteoporosis induced by oral steroids from the studies. No studies evaluated prevalence of fracture.

CONCLUSIONS

Registry studies and randomized controlled trials would be needed to assess the risk of osteoporosis in CRSwNP patients and future guidelines should include recommendations regarding preventive treatment and recommendations on doses and durations of oral steroids.

Surgically treated osteonecrosis and osteomyelitis of the jaw and oral cavity in patients highly adherent to alendronate treatment: a nationwide user-only cohort study including over 60,000 alendronate users

Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) is rare (2.53/10,000 person-years) among alendronate users, but long-term and compliant use are associated with an increased risk of surgically treated ONJ. Risk of surgically treated ONJ is higher in patients with rheumatoid diseases and use of proton pump inhibitors.

INTRODUCTION

ONJ is a rare event in users of oral bisphosphonates. Our aims were to evaluate if the risk of surgically treated ONJ increases with longer or more compliant treatment with alendronate for osteoporosis and to identify risk factors for surgically treated ONJ.

METHODS

Open nationwide register-based cohort study containing one nested case-control study. Patients were treatment-naïve incident users of alendronate 1996-2007 in Denmark, both genders, aged 50-94 at the time of beginning treatment (N = 61,990). Participants were followed to 31 December 2013.

RESULTS

Over a mean of 6.8 years, 107 patients received surgery for ONJ or related conditions corresponding to an incidence rate of 2.53 (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.08 to 3.05) per 10,000 patient years. Recent use was associated with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) 4.13 (95% CI 1.94 to 8.79) compared to past use. Similarly, adherent users (medication possession ratio (MPR) >50%) were at two to threefold increased risk of ONJ compared to low adherence (MPR <50%), and long-term (>5 years) use was related with higher risk (adjusted OR 2.31 (95% CI (1.14 to 4.67)) than shorter-term use. History of rheumatoid disorders and use of proton pump inhibitors were independently associated with surgically treated ONJ.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that recent, long-term, and compliant uses of alendronate are associated with an increased risk of surgically treated ONJ. Nevertheless, the rates remain low, even in long-term adherent users. ONJ risk appears higher in patients with conditions likely to indirectly affect the oral mucosa.

Validation of FRAX and the impact of self-reported falls among elderly in a general population: the HUNT study, Norway

Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) without bone mineral density (BMD) for hip fracture prediction was validated in a Norwegian population 50-90 years. Fracture risk increased with higher FRAX score, and the observed number of hip fractures agreed well with the predicted number, except for the youngest and oldest men. Self-reported fall was an independent risk factor for fracture in women.

INTRODUCTION

The primary aim was to validate FRAX without BMD for hip fracture prediction in a Norwegian population of men and women 50-90 years. Secondary, to study whether information of falls could improve prediction of fractures in the subgroup aged 70-90 years.

METHODS

Data were obtained from the third survey of the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT3), the fracture registry in Nord-Trøndelag, and the Norwegian Prescription Database (NorPD), including 15,432 women and 13,585 men. FRAX hip without BMD was calculated, and hip fractures were registered for a median follow-up of 5.2 years. The number of estimated and observed fractures was assessed, ROC curves with area under the curve (AUC), and Cox regression analyses. For the group aged 70-90 years, self-reported falls the last year before HUNT3 were included in the Cox regression model.

RESULTS

The risk of fracture increased with higher FRAX score. When FRAX groups were categorized in a 10-year percentage risk for hip fracture as follows, <4, 4-7.9, 8-11.9, and ≥12%, the hazard ratio (HR) for hip fracture between the lowest and the highest group was 17.80 (95% CI: 12.86-24.65) among women and 23.40 (13.93-39.30) in men. Observed number of hip fractures agreed quite well with the predicted number, except for the youngest and oldest men. AUC was 0.81 (0.78-0.83) for women and 0.79 (0.76-0.83) for men. Self-reported fall was an independent risk factor for fracture in women (HR 1.64, 1.20-2.24), and among men, this was not significant (1.09, 0.65-1.83).

CONCLUSIONS

FRAX without BMD predicted hip fracture reasonably well. In the age group 70-90 years, falls seemed to imply an additional risk among women.

Excess of all-cause mortality after a fracture in type 2 diabetic patients: a population-based cohort study

Post-fracture mortality in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients has been poorly studied. We report an absolute and relative excess all-cause mortality following a fracture in these patients compared to non-diabetic patients.

INTRODUCTION

T2DM and osteoporotic fractures are independently associated with a reduced lifespan, but it is unknown if T2DM confers an excess post-fracture mortality compared to non-diabetic fracture patients. We report post-fracture all-cause mortality according to T2DM status.

METHODS

This is a population-based cohort study using data from the SIDIAP database. All ≥50 years old T2DM patients registered in SIDIAP in 2006-2013 and two diabetes-free controls matched on age, gender, and primary care center were selected. Study outcome was all-cause mortality following incident fractures. Participants were followed from date of any fracture (AF), hip fracture (HF), and clinical vertebral fracture (VF) until the earliest of death or censoring. Cox regression was used to calculate mortality according to T2DM status after adjustment for age, gender, body mass index, smoking, alcohol intake, and previous ischemic heart and cerebrovascular disease.

RESULTS

We identified 166,106 T2DM patients and 332,212 non-diabetic, of which 11,066 and 21,564, respectively, sustained a fracture and were then included. Post-fracture mortality rates (1000 person-years) were (in T2DM vs non-diabetics) 62.7 vs 49.5 after AF, 130.7 vs 112.7 after HF, and 54.9 vs 46.2 after VF. Adjusted HR (95% CI) for post-AF, post-HF, and post-VF mortality was 1.30 (1.23-1.37), 1.28 (1.20-1.38), and 1.20 (1.06-1.35), respectively, for T2DM compared to non-diabetics.

CONCLUSIONS

T2DM patients have a 30% increased post-fracture mortality compared to non-diabetics and a remarkable excess in absolute mortality risk. More research is needed on the causes underlying such excess risk, and on the effectiveness of measures to reduce post-fracture morbi-mortality in T2DM subjects.

The risk of osteoporosis in oral steroid treatment for nasal polyposis: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Systemic glucocorticoids are often used in the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), and osteoporosis is a well-known complication to steroid treatment, associated with significant morbidity. Nevertheless, the burden of steroid induced osteoporosis is unknown in patients with CRSwNP. We aimed to assess the risk of acquiring osteoporosis caused by oral steroids in patients with CRSwNP, and provide recommendations on future research and guidelines.

METHODOLOGY

Cochrane Review Database, EMBASE, Ovid Medline, and PubMed were searched for studies including adult patients with CRSwNP treated with oral steroids. Outcomes were Bone Mineral Density (BMD) and prevalence of fractures in relation to dose and duration of oral steroids. In addition, we reviewed general guidelines for treatment with oral steroids.

RESULTS

We identified two studies (n=243) that met the inclusion criteria. Doses and durations of oral steroids were over 5 mg/day for more than 3 months and 1 mg/kg body weight/day for 6 to 10 days for 4 or more courses/year. The prevalence of low bone mass was 39% and 61%, respectively. It was not possible to quantify the overall risk of osteoporosis induced by oral steroids from the studies. No studies evaluated prevalence of fracture.

CONCLUSIONS

Registry studies and randomized controlled trials would be needed to assess the risk of osteoporosis in CRSwNP patients and future guidelines should include recommendations regarding preventive treatment and recommendations on doses and durations of oral steroids.

Identification and management of patients at increased risk of osteoporotic fracture: outcomes of an ESCEO expert consensus meeting

Osteoporosis represents a significant and increasing healthcare burden in Europe, but most patients at increased risk of fracture do not receive medication, resulting in a large treatment gap. Identification of patients who are at particularly high risk will help clinicians target appropriate treatment more precisely and cost-effectively, and should be the focus of future research.

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of the study was to review data on the identification and treatment of patients with osteoporosis at increased risk of fracture.

METHODS

A working group convened by the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis met to review current data on the epidemiology and burden of osteoporosis and the patterns of medical management throughout Europe.

RESULTS

In Europe in 2010, the cost of managing osteoporosis was estimated at €37 billion and notably the costs of treatment and long-term care of patients with fractures were considerably higher than the costs for pharmacological prevention. Despite the availability of effective treatments, the uptake of osteoporosis therapy is low and declining, in particular for secondary fracture prevention where the risk of a subsequent fracture following a first fracture is high. Consequently, there is a significant treatment gap between those who would benefit from treatment and those who receive it, which urgently needs to be addressed so that the burden of disease can be reduced.

CONCLUSIONS

Implementation of global fracture prevention strategies is a critical need. Future research should focus on identifying specific risk factors for imminent fractures, periods of high fracture risk, patients who are at increased risk of fracture and therapies that are most suited to such high-risk patients and optimal implementation strategies in primary, secondary and tertiary care.

International Osteoporosis Foundation and European Calcified Tissue Society Working Group. Recommendations for the screening of adherence to oral bisphosphonates

Adherence to oral bisphosphonates is low. A screening strategy is proposed based on the response of biochemical markers of bone turnover after 3 months of therapy. If no change is observed, the clinician should reassess the adherence to the treatment and also other potential issues with the drug.

INTRODUCTION

Low adherence to oral bisphosphonates is a common problem that jeopardizes the efficacy of treatment of osteoporosis. No clear screening strategy for the assessment of compliance is widely accepted in these patients.

METHODS

The International Osteoporosis Foundation and the European Calcified Tissue Society have convened a working group to propose a screening strategy to detect a lack of adherence to these drugs. The question to answer was whether the bone turnover markers (BTMs) PINP and CTX can be used to identify low adherence in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis initiating oral bisphosphonates for osteoporosis. The findings of the TRIO study specifically address this question and were used as the basis for testing the hypothesis.

RESULTS

Based on the findings of the TRIO study, specifically addressing this question, the working group recommends measuring PINP and CTX at baseline and 3 months after starting therapy to check for a decrease above the least significant change (decrease of more than 38% for PINP and 56% for CTX). Detection rate for the measurement of PINP is 84%, for CTX 87% and, if variation in at least one is considered when measuring both, the level of detection is 94.5%.

CONCLUSIONS

If a significant decrease is observed, the treatment can continue, but if no decrease occurs, the clinician should reassess to identify problems with the treatment, mainly low adherence.

Recent hip fracture trends in Sweden and Denmark with age-period-cohort effects

This study used nationwide hip fracture data from Denmark and Sweden during 1987-2010 to examine effects of (birth) cohort and period. We found that time trends, cohort, and period effects were different in the two countries. Results also indicated that hip fracture rates may increase in the not so far future.

INTRODUCTION

The reasons for the downturn in hip fracture rates remain largely unclear but circumstances earlier in life seem important.

METHODS

We ascertained hip fractures in the populations ≥50 years in Denmark and Sweden in national discharge registers. Country- and sex-specific age-period-cohort (APC) effects during 1987-2010 were evaluated by log-likelihood estimates in Poisson regression models presented as incidence rate ratios (IRR).

RESULTS

There were 399,596 hip fractures in SE and 248,773 in DK. Age-standardized hip fracture rate was stable in SE men but decreased in SE women and in DK. Combined period + cohort effects were generally stronger in SE than DK and in women than men. IRR per period ranged from 1.05 to 1.30 in SE and 0.95 to 1.21 in DK. IRR per birth cohort ranged from 1.07 to 3.13 in SE and 0.77 to 1.67 in DK. Relative period effects decreased with successive period in SE and described a convex curve in DK. Relative cohort effects increased with successive birth cohort in both countries but with lower risks for DK women and men and SE women born around the 1930s (age 75-86 years today and responsible for most hip fractures) partly explaining the recent downturn. Men and women born thereafter however seem to have a higher hip fracture risk, and we expect a reversal of the present decline in rates, with increasing hip fracture rates in both Denmark and Sweden during the upcoming decade.

CONCLUSIONS

Time trends, cohort, and period effects were different in SE and DK. This may reflect differences in general health as evident in known differences in life expectancy, healthcare organization, and prevention such as use of anti-osteoporosis drugs. Analyses indicate that hip fracture rates may increase in the not so far future.

Diagnostic devices for osteoporosis in the general population: A systematic review

INTRODUCTION

A diagnostic gap exists in the current dual photon X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) based diagnostic approach to osteoporosis. Other diagnostic devices have been developed, but no comprehensive review concerning the applicability of these diagnostic devices for population-based screening have been performed.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A systematic review of Embase, Medline and the Cochrane Central Register for Controlled Trials was performed for population-based studies that focused on technical methods that could either indicate bone mineral density (BMD) by DXA, substitute for DXA in prediction of fracture risk, or that could have an incremental value in fracture prediction in addition to DXA. Quality of included studies was rated by QUADAS 2.

RESULTS

Many other technical devices have been tested in a population-based setting. Five studies aiming to indicate BMD and 17 studies aiming to predict fractures were found. Overall, the latter studies had higher methodological quality. The highest number of studies was found for quantitative ultrasound (QUS). The ability to indicate BMD or predict fractures was moderate to minor for all examined devices, using reported area under the curve (AUC) of Receiver Operating Characteristic curves values as standard.

CONCLUSIONS

Of the methods assessed, only QUS appears capable of perhaps replacing DXA as standalone examination in the future whilst radiographic absorptiometry could provide important information in areas with scarcity of DXA. QUS may be of added value even after DXA has been performed. Evaluation of proposed cutoff-values from population-based studies in separate population-based cohorts is still lacking for most examination devices.

The epidemiology of fractures in Denmark in 2011

In the present study, we used national health care databases to estimate fracture incidence rates (IRs) and compared these IRs based on imputed data. We showed that imputation could lead to both over- and underestimation of IRs, and future research should therefore focus on how to improve those imputations.

INTRODUCTION

Osteoporosis is a major public health burden through associated (osteoporotic) fractures. In Denmark, the incidence rates (IRs) of hip fracture are widely available. However, there is limited data about other fracture sites. A recent report could only provide imputed IRs, although nationwide data is readily available in electronic healthcare databases. Therefore, our aim was to estimate fracture site-specific IRs for Denmark in 2011 and to compare those to the previously reported imputed data.

METHODS

Data from the Danish National Hospital Discharge Register was used to estimate age- and gender-specific IRs for any fracture as well as for different fracture sites in the Danish population aged 20 years and older in 2011. Hip fracture IRs were stratified to sub-sites, and IRs were determined for all hip fractures which were confirmed by surgery.

RESULTS

The total number of incident fractures in 2011 was 80,760 (IR 191, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 190-192 (per 10,000 person-years)), of which 35,398 (43.8 %, IR 171, 95 % CI 169-173) occurred in men and 45,362 (56.2 %, IR 211, 95 % CI 209-213) in women. The majority of the fractures occurred in the population aged 50 years and older (n = 50,470, IR 249, 95 % CI 247-251). The numbers of any hip fracture were lower than the previously imputed estimates, whereas the number of forearm fractures was higher.

CONCLUSION

We showed age- and gender-specific fracture rates for any fracture as well as for different fracture sites. The IRs of most fracture sites increased with age. Estimating the number of fractures for Denmark based on imputation of data from other countries led to both over- and underestimation. Future research should therefore focus on how to improve those imputations as not all countries have nationwide registry data.

Hyponatremia and hypernatremia are associated with increased 30-day mortality in hip fracture patients

Using data from the Danish national registries on 7317 patients, this study shows that abnormal plasma sodium levels, in the form of hyponatremia and hypernatremia, are prevalent and associated with increased 30-day mortality in hip fracture patients.

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of hyponatremia and hypernatremia in patients admitted with a fractured hip as well as the association with 30-day in mortality in these patients.

METHODS

A total of 7317 hip fracture patients (aged 60 years or above) with admission plasma sodium measurements were included. Data on comorbidity, medication, and death was retrieved from Danish national registries. The association between plasma sodium and mortality was examined using Cox proportional hazard models.

RESULTS

The prevalence of hyponatremia and hypernatremia on admission was 19.0 and 1.7 %, respectively. Thirty-day mortality was increased for patients with hyponatremia (12.2 %, p = 0.005) and hypernatremia (15.5 %, p = 0.03) compared to normonatremic patients (9.6 %). After adjustment for possible confounding factors, hyponatremia (1.38 [1.16-1.64], p = 0.0003) and hypernatremia (1.71 [1.08-2.70], p = 0.02) were still associated with increased risk of death by 30 days. Looking at the association between changes in plasma sodium during admission and mortality, there was no difference between patients with normalized and persistent hyponatremia (10.4 vs 11.3 %, p = 0.6) while a lower mortality was found for normalized hypernatremia compared to persistent hypernatremia (12.4 vs 33.3 %, p = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that abnormal plasma sodium levels are prevalent in patients admitted with a fractured hip and that both hyponatremia and hypernatremia are associated with increased risk of death within 30 days of admission.

Subsequent fracture rates in a nationwide population-based cohort study with a 10-year perspective

SUMMARY

Fractures after the age of 50 are frequently observed in Denmark, and many of these may be osteoporotic. This study examined the incidence of all and subsequent fractures in a 10-year period from 2001 to 2011. The incidence of subsequent fractures was high, especially following hip fracture.

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study is to examine patterns of subsequent fractures and mortality rates over a 10-year period in patients already suffering from fracture.

METHODS

The study was designed as a nationwide, register-based follow-up study. Patients were included if diagnosed with an index fracture (ICD-10 codes: S22.x, S32.x, S42.x, S52.x, S62.x, S72.x, S82.x, S92.x, T02.x, T08.x, T10.x and T12.x) between January 1st, 2001 and December 31st, 2001 and if older than 50 years at time of fracture. The patients were investigated for future subsequent fractures from January 1st, 2002 to December 31st, 2011.

RESULTS

In this study, we demonstrated that patients with fractures (especially hip fractures) have a high risk of subsequent fractures, especially hip fracture. Other fractures, which are not commonly considered as osteoporotic fractures, such as lower leg, were frequently observed in the 10 years following index fracture. The cumulative incidence proportion (CIP) of subsequent fractures during the 10-year follow-up period was high for all recurrent fractures (9-46 %). Subsequent hip fracture, regardless of index fracture, had the highest CIP across the study period, ranging from 9 to 40 %. Appendicular fractures were often followed by a recurrent fracture, or subsequent fractures at a more proximal location in the same limb, i.e. forearm fractures were followed by humerus fractures. These results have not been previously demonstrated to this extent, and according to our knowledge, no previous studies have estimated cumulative 10-year subsequent fracture incidences for any non-hip fractures.

CONCLUSION

Patients suffering a fracture (and especially a hip fracture) have a high incidence of subsequent fracture. Fractures after the age of 50 may be considered an early warning of increased risk for future fractures in many patients.

Epidemiology of forearm fractures in adults in Denmark: national age- and gender-specific incidence rates, ratio of forearm to hip fractures, and extent of surgical fracture repair in inpatients and outpatients

National epidemiological studies of forearm fractures are scarce. We examined in- and outpatient rates in Denmark, including anatomical location, surgery, hospitalization ratio, recurrent fractures, and ratio of forearm to hip fractures. This may be useful for triangulation in countries with less detailed information. Rates were higher than previously estimated.

INTRODUCTION

Despite a significant contribution to the overall burden of osteoporotic, nonvertebral fractures, relatively little information is available about age- and gender-specific incidence rates for many countries including Denmark.

METHODS

We used national individual patient data on inpatient and outpatient treatment to calculate rates of forearm fractures, taking readmissions into account, with subtables for distal and proximal fractures. We also calculated ratios of forearm to hip fractures that may be useful when imputing forearm fracture rates from other administrative sources. In addition, we report the rates of hospital admission and the rates of surgical treatment, allowing readers to extrapolate from the number of admissions or surgical procedures to incidence rates, should their data sources be less comprehensive.

RESULTS

Forearm fracture rates were 278 per 100,000 patient years in men aged 50+ and 1,110 per 100,000 in women aged 50+. The female to male incidence rate ratio was 4.0 for the age group 50+ but close to unity in persons aged 40 or under. Two thirds of patients were treated on an outpatient basis with little difference across age and gender strata. Four out of five fractures were treated conservatively. The rate of forearm fractures in Denmark was somewhat higher in both genders than recently imputed from hip fracture rates and were close to the rates previously reported in studies from Norway and Sweden.

CONCLUSION

The rates of forearm fracture in Denmark are higher than previously estimated and very similar to the high risk reported from studies in Norway and Sweden.

Nationwide registry-based analysis of cardiovascular risk factors and adverse outcomes in patients treated with strontium ranelate

National registers showed that a large proportion of patients treated with strontium ranelate have conditions that may now contraindicate use. The risk of death in strontium ranelate-treated patients was significantly higher than that seen in users of other osteoporosis drugs even after adjusting for cardiovascular risk factor profile.

INTRODUCTION

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) recently warned that strontium ranelate should be avoided in patients with ischaemic heart disease (IHD), peripheral vascular disease (PVD) or cerebrovascular disease (CVD), and in patients with uncontrolled hypertension. We investigated to what extent patients beginning strontium ranelate had cardiovascular conditions and determined the rates of MI, stroke and death.

METHODS

Using the Danish National Prescription Database, we identified all 3,252 patients aged 50+ who began strontium ranelate in 2005-2007 and 35,606 users of other osteoporosis drugs as controls. Hospital contacts and causes of death were retrieved from national registers.

RESULTS

Patients starting strontium were older than patients treated with other osteoporosis drugs and more likely to suffer from IHD, PVD or CVD (combined prevalence 19.2 % in female users and 29.5 % in male users). The adjusted risk of MI was not significantly increased (women: HR 1.05 [95 % CI 0.79-1.41, p = 0.73]; men: 1.28 [0.74-2.20, p = 0.38]). For stroke, the adjusted HR was 1.23 (0.98-1.55, p = 0.07) in women and 1.64 (0.99-2.70, p = 0.05) in men. All-cause mortality was higher in strontium users (women: adjusted HR 1.20 [1.10-1.30, p < 0.001]; men: adjusted HR 1.22 [1.03-1.45, p < 0.05]).

CONCLUSION

Patients treated with strontium ranelate have an unfavourable cardiovascular risk profile compared with users of other osteoporosis drugs. However, only the risk of death differed significantly from the rates observed in users of other osteoporosis drugs adjusted for risk factor profile. A large proportion of patients currently treated with strontium ranelate have conditions that would now be considered contraindications according to EMA.

Association between refill compliance to oral bisphosphonate treatment, incident fractures, and health care costs--an analysis using national health databases

SUMMARY

The study estimates the cost of poor and suboptimal refill compliance by estimating fracture costs and assessing the association between refill compliance with oral bisphosphonates and incident fractures using Danish health registers. Patients with poor and suboptimal refill compliance had more major osteoporotic fractures, and the direct costs related to hospital care, primary care, and pharmaceutical treatment for these excess fractures reached almost 14 M DKK (2.5 M USD) for the study population which compares to a national annual excess cost of around 17 M DKK (3.1 M USD) using 2011 prescription prevalence.

INTRODUCTION

Adherence to oral anti-osteoporosis treatment has been shown in several studies to be relatively low and the potential impact on fracture burden is high. The aim of the study was to assess the association between refill compliance and all-cause health care costs.

METHODS

A national dataset was extracted with all treatment-naive patients who began oral bisphosphonate (BP) treatment for osteoporosis in Denmark between 1997 and 2006 (N = 54,876, 87 % women). Patients who survived for at least 2 years (N = 47,176) were divided into groups based on Medication Possession Ratio (MPR). Logistic regressions were used to derive difference in the probability of incident fractures between the three MPR groups. Fracture costs (related to medication use, primary care practice, specialists, and hospitals) were derived by comparing cost 12 months before and after fracture.

RESULTS

For alendronate, the adjusted risk of major osteoporotic fractures was significantly reduced (OR 0.768; 0.686-0.859), including fractures of the hip (0.718; 0.609-0.846) and humerus (0.54; 0.431-0.677) with MPR ≥ 0.8. The risk reduction was lower with etidronate. Over 2 years, a total of 171 hip fractures and 53 other major osteoporotic fractures were attributed to suboptimal or poor refill compliance, with an excess cost of 13.7 M DKK (2.5 M USD).

CONCLUSIONS

Poor refill compliance is not unusual in patients on oral bisphosphonates, and we demonstrate that this is accompanied by excess major osteoporotic fractures and health care costs at the societal level.

Heart failure in patients treated with bisphosphonates

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of heart failure in patients treated with bisphosphonates.

DESIGN

In this nationwide retrospective cohort study from Denmark, all users of bisphosphonates and raloxifene between 1996 and 2006 (n = 102 342) were included in the 'exposed' group and three age- and gender-matched subjects (n = 307.026) from the general population comprised the control group. The risk of heart failure was estimated by Cox proportional hazard analyses.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up times were 2.8, 5.5 and 4.9 years for alendronate-, etidronate- and raloxifene-treated patients, respectively. The absolute risk of heart failure was 4.4% in the exposed group and 3.7% in the control group (P < 0.01). The relative risk (RR) of heart failure was significantly increased in users of bisphophonates: crude RR 1.71 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.63-1.79]; adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 1.41 (95% CI 1.34-1.48). By comparison, raloxifene, which is used for the same indication but has a different mechanism of action, was not associated with an increased risk of heart failure: adjusted HR 1.07 (95% CI 0.76-1.50). When the two most commonly used bisphosphonates, alendronate and etidronate, were analysed separately, significant trends in the risk of heart failure were observed across refill compliance strata. The risk of heart failure increased significantly with increasing refill compliance for etidronate (P for trend < 0.01), whereas it decreased for alendronate (P for trend < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Bisphosphonate users were at increased risk of heart failure compared to age- and gender-matched control subjects. However, users of alendronate showed a dose-dependent reduction in this risk, suggesting that alendronate may reduce the risk of heart failure.

Parity and tanned white skin as novel predictors of vitamin D status in early pregnancy: a population-based cohort study

CONTEXT

In pregnancy, vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency, defined as serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) <50 nM, and <25 nM, respectively, may have adverse effects for both mother and child. Prevalence estimates, and identification of subgroups at special risk, may be useful for the planning of preventive strategies.

OBJECTIVE

To study the prevalence and risk factors of hypovitaminosis D in early pregnancy.

DESIGN AND METHODS

In a cross-sectional study of 1348 women in early pregnancy from the Odense Child Cohort, Denmark, 25(OH)D was determined and correlated to demographic and lifestyle variables (age, nationality, skin tone, parity, prepregnancy body mass index (BMI), smoking and sun exposure), using multiple linear and logistic regression analyses for all year, or stratified for summer and winter. The risk of vitamin D insufficiency was expressed as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals in brackets.

RESULTS

The prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency was estimated to 27·8% and 3·5% respectively. In adjusted analyses, vitamin D insufficiency was directly associated with winter season, OR = 1·89 (1·35-2·63); increasing prepregnancy BMI, OR = 1·06 (1·03-1·10); and smoking, OR = 2·7 (1·34-5·41); but was less frequent in nulliparous, OR = 0·47 (0·33-0·68) and tanned Caucasians, OR = 0·63 (0·41-0·97). Season-specific associations having parental origin from outside Europe in summer, OR = 4·13 (1·41-12·13); in winter smoking, OR = 3·15 (1·19-8·36); and prepregnancy BMI, OR = 1·12 (1·06-1·18).

CONCLUSIONS

Vitamin D insufficiency was widespread in early pregnancy. Associations to smoking, prepregnancy BMI and origin outside Europe varied with season. Multiparity and not being tanned in Caucasians represent new risk factors of vitamin D insufficiency.

Anti-osteoporotic therapy in Denmark--predictors and demographics of poor refill compliance and poor persistence

In this study of 100,949 new users of oral bisphosphonates age ≥ 35 years, "early quitters" were found to differ from others with poor refill compliance in terms of socioeconomic, demographic, and treatment-related characteristics. New risk factors for poor compliance and persistence were identified.

INTRODUCTION

Poor compliance with anti-osteoporotic therapy is an on-going worldwide challenge. In this study, we hypothesized that "early quitters" differ in socioeconomics, demographics, co-medications, and comorbid conditions from other patients with low compliance.

METHODS

The study was a register-based nationwide cohort study of anti-osteoporotic therapy comprising 100,949 men and women. Statistical analysis including backward stepwise logistic regression analysis was used to explain causes of treatment failure and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis to estimate persistence of treatment.

RESULTS

It was noted that 56.6 % of the patients were persistent and compliant, 4.7 % of the patients were persistent but "low compliant" while 38.7 % of the patients were "early quitters". "Early quitters" were found to differ in socioeconomics from "low compliant" patients. Differences concerning increased risk of "early quitters" were associated with high household income, subjects' age 71.9-79 years, living in the countryside or village, prior treatment with analgesics and anti-parkinson drugs, and dementia. Differences concerning decreased risk of "early quitters" were associated with male, living in an apartment, children living at home, living close to a university hospital, anti-osteoporotic therapy other than alendronate, number of drugs especially above three, pulmonary disease, collagen disease.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest a need for improved support for patients to facilitate the interpretation of the disease and the perception of the benefits and risks of treatment-to reduce the risk of "early quitters". We were able to identify new risk groups that may be candidates for targeted actions.

Time trends for alendronate prescription practices in women with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and women exposed to systemic glucocorticoids

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and systemic glucocorticoid exposure are well-known risk factors of osteoporosis. We evaluated alendronate prescription practices related to COPD and exposure to systemic corticosteroids from 1996 to 2008 and showed an increasing targeting of alendronate treatment in patients with COPD and patients with systemic corticosteroid exposure.

INTRODUCTION

COPD and systemic glucocorticoid exposure are well-known risk factors of osteoporosis and fragility fracture, but osteoporosis is often underdiagnosed and undertreated in these patients. This study aims to evaluate alendronate prescription practices related to COPD and/or to exposure to systemic glucocorticoids among Danish women.

METHODS

A total of 388,314 female subjects >50 years old, 64,719 of whom initiated treatment with alendronate, and 323,595 age- and gender-matched controls were retrospectively identified between 1996 and 2008 from national health registers. Multivariate logistic regression was used for examining prescription practices, specifically if these risk factors (COPD or glucocorticoid exposure) increased or decreased the likelihood of beginning alendronate therapy.

RESULTS

A diagnosis of COPD was associated with an increased likelihood of using alendronate (odds ratio (OR) 1.4, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.4-1.5, p < 0.001). Further, a diagnosis of COPD was associated with an increasing tendency of initiating alendronate treatment in the study period (OR 1.3 (95 % CI 1.1-1.5, years 1996-1999) to 1.5 (95 % CI 1.4-1.6, years 2006-2008), p < 0.01). Exposure to systemic glucocorticoids was associated with a significantly increasing (OR 3.6, 95 % CI 3.3-3.9 to OR 5.5, 95 % CI 5.3-5.8) probability of receiving alendronate treatment in the same observation period.

CONCLUSION

This nationwide register-based study on alendronate prescription practices in Denmark shows an increasing targeting of alendronate treatment in patients with COPD and an even stronger trend for patients with systemic glucocorticoid exposure, perhaps indicating increased awareness of well-known and associated conditions.

Characteristics of patients who suffer major osteoporotic fractures despite adhering to alendronate treatment: a National Prescription registry study

Antiresorptive treatment reduces the risk of fractures, but most patients remain at elevated risk. We used health registers to identify predictors of new major osteoporotic fractures in patients adhering to alendronate. Risk factors showed a different pattern than in the general population and included dementia, ulcer disease, and Parkinson's disease.

INTRODUCTION

Antiresorptives reduce the excess risk of fractures in patients with osteoporosis, but most patients remain at elevated risk. In some countries, patients must sustain fractures while on bisphosphonate (BP) treatment to qualify for more expensive treatment. It is unclear if patients who fracture on BP can be viewed as a distinct subgroup.

METHODS

The National Prescription registry was used to identify 38,088 new alendronate users. The outcome was major osteoporotic fractures 6+ months after filling the first prescription in patients with a medication possession ratio > 80 %.

RESULTS

One thousand and seventy-two (5.5 %) patients sustained major osteoporotic fractures. The risk increased with age and was lower in men. The most important risk factor was the number of comedications (hazard ratio (HR) 1.04, 95 % CI 1.03-1.06, for each drug). Dementia (HR 1.81, 95 % CI 1.18-2.78), prior fracture (one: HR 1.17, 95 % CI 1.02-1.34; multiple: HR 1.34, 95 % CI 1.08-1.67), and ulcer disease (HR 1.45, 95 % CI 1.04-2.03) also increased the risk. Diabetes did not influence fracture risk, nor did rheumatic disorders. The risk was lower in glucocorticoid users (HR 0.78, 95 % CI 0.65-0.93).

CONCLUSION

Risk factors while adhering to BP show a somewhat different pattern than that of the general population and FRAX. Ulcer disease and dementia may impair the ability to use the medications correctly. Though this is an observational study and associations may not be causal, it may be prudent to include dementia, ulcer disease, and Parkinson's disease to capture the risk of fractures on treatment. Lower risk in patients treated with glucocorticoids and in men probably reflects a lower treatment threshold related to guidelines.

Are long-term bisphosphonate users a reality? Dose years for current bisphosphonate users assessed using the danish national prescription database

The prevalence of long-term bisphosphonate use may be low due to low refill compliance and gaps in treatment. An analysis of the prescription history of 58,674 bisphosphonate users in Denmark found that only 2.8 % had received ten dose years of treatment or above.

INTRODUCTION

This study aims to describe the demographics of present bisphosphonate (BP) users, to determine the prevalence of long-term BP use, and to establish if long-term use (a 10-year history of osteoporosis treatment) translated to ten dose years of bisphosphonate prescriptions filled, given the propensity for treatment gaps and low refill compliance with bisphosphonates.

METHODS

The study population was all persons aged 35 and above, who had filled at least one prescription for an oral bisphosphonate in the year 2008. Past use of osteoporosis medications (bisphosphonates, raloxifene, strontium ranelate, or PTH analogs) for the period January 1, 1995 to December 31, 2007 was retrieved from the Danish National Prescription Database for descriptive analysis.

RESULTS

Of the 58,674 BP users, 46 % were above the age of 75, and 13 % were men. Though 5.9 % had at least a 10-year history of treatment, only half (2.8 %) had received more than ten dose years of a BP. For any osteoporosis drug, 3.0 % had received ten dose years or more, while 23.2 % had received between 5 and 10 years of treatment.

CONCLUSION

Long-term users with ten dose years or more of a BP are rare due to periods of low compliance and gaps, with a discrepancy between the length of treatment and doses taken. The study also highlights the great number of patients who have used BP for more than five dose years and should be advised on length of treatment, a decision process that will be difficult due to the paucity of long-term safety and efficacy data.

Analysis of the association between bisphosphonate treatment survival in Danish hip fracture patients-a nationwide register-based open cohort study

Bisphosphonate (BP) users have decreased mortality, but this could be due to channeling bias. National healthcare data on hip fracture showed lower mortality in patients who were treated prior to fracture or began treatment after fracture. Reduced mortality after only one prescription filled points to the importance of patient factors.

INTRODUCTION

Use of bisphosphonates has been found to be associated with decreased mortality even when adjusted for sex, frailty, bone mineral density and comorbidity, but BP may chiefly be initiated in patients with osteoporosis whose life expectancy is judged to be good. Our aim was to investigate the association between BP initiated before or after a hip fracture with mortality, and any modifying effects of comorbid conditions and recurrent fracture.

METHODS

This register-based cohort study used prescription and mortality information for Danish patients born ≤1945 experiencing a hip fracture between 1/Jan/1999 and 31/Dec/ 2002 (N = 42,076). Patients who began BP after hip fracture were compared with hip fracture patients who remained alive at the time when their matched index case began treatment.

RESULTS

Patients who used BP prior to their hip fracture (4.6 %) had significantly lower 3-month mortality (adjusted odds ratio, OR, 0.68; 0.59-0.77). Patients who began BP after the fracture (2.6 %) had significantly decreased mortality, both for patients who filled only one prescription (adjusted hazard ratio, HR 0.84; 0.73-0.95) and for patients who filled multiple prescriptions HR 0.73 (0.61-0.88). There was a significant interaction by gender with no significant risk reduction in men.

CONCLUSION

This national dataset shows significantly and substantially improved survival in women who receive BP before or after their hip fracture. However, the observation of a reduction in mortality in patients who filled only one prescription for a BP suggests that patient factors may account for a considerable part of the survival advantage observed with BPs.

Incidence of fractures of the femur, including subtrochanteric, up to 8 years since initiation of oral bisphosphonate therapy: a register-based cohort study using the US MarketScan claims databases

In a cohort study of users of bisphosphonates, we evaluated the incidence of fragility fractures at all sites on the femur following for up to 8 years of therapy with alendronate or risedronate. We did not find evidence for a reversal of fracture protection with long-term use of bisphosphonates.

INTRODUCTION

Few studies have acquired adequate data with prolonged follow-up on bisphosphonate users in the general population to evaluate their long-term effects on the risk of hip fractures including those in the subtrochanteric region.

METHODS

This cohort study utilizes a large USA database (January 1, 2000 to June 30, 2009). We compared patients with higher versus lower degrees of compliance [medication possession ratio, MPR <1/3 (the reference), 1/3-<2/3, or ≥ 2/3]. Radiographic adjudication of fracture site and features were not performed. Hazard ratios (HR) for fracture were estimated using time-dependent Cox models. Restricted cubic splines (RCS) were used to plot HRs for fracture against duration of therapy.

RESULTS

There were 3,655 incident cases of femoral fracture (764 subtrochanteric/shaft, 2,769 hip) identified during 917,741 person-years of follow-up (median  =  3 years) on 287,099 patients (267,374 were women) from the date when they initiated oral bisphosphonate therapy. The corresponding HRs (95% confidence interval, CI) for overall femoral fractures associated with each additional year of therapy were 0.93 (0.86-1.01) within 5 years, and 0.89 (0.77-1.03) beyond 5 years for risedronate and 0.86 (0.81-0.91) and 0.95 (0.84-1.07) for alendronate, respectively. The corresponding estimates for subtrochanteric/shaft fractures were 1.05 (0.87-1.26) and 0.89 (0.60-1.33) for risedronate and 0.99 (0.92-1.05) and 1.05 (0.92-1.20) for alendronate, respectively. The HRs (95% CI) for overall femoral fractures associated with each additional year of alendronate or risedronate therapy within 5 and beyond 5 years were not significantly different.

CONCLUSION

Our study showed persistence of overall hip fracture protection with long-term use of alendronate or risedronate.

Reduced colon cancer incidence and mortality in postmenopausal women treated with an oral bisphosphonate--Danish National Register Based Cohort Study

In this Danish national register-based cohort study, we examined the effects of alendronate on the development of colon cancers and survival. The incidence of colon cancer and mortality rate, once colon cancer had been diagnosed, were lower in patients treated with alendronate, posing the question whether alendronate acts as chemopreventive.

INTRODUCTION

When bisphosphonates are given by mouth, around 99% remains non-absorbed in the intestine. Based on their biochemical actions, we predicted that oral bisphosphonates might prevent colon cancers.

METHODS

This is a Danish national register-based cohort study. We identified 30,606 women aged 50+, mean age 71.9 years, who had not previously taken treatments for osteoporosis, who began to take alendronate in 1996-2005, and assigned 124,424 individually age- and gender-matched control subjects. The main outcome measure was colorectal cancers incidence and post-diagnosis survival in patients taking oral alendronate for osteoporosis.

RESULTS

Cox proportional hazards analysis of death due to colon cancer showed lower risk in alendronate users, crude hazard ratio (HR) 0.69 (95% CI 0.59-0.81) with an adjusted HR of 0.62 (95% CI 0.52-0.72). The reduction in risk comprised both a lower incidence of colon cancer-adjusted HR 0.69 (95% CI 0.60-0.79) and a lower mortality once colon cancer had been diagnosed, adjusted HR 0.82 (95% CI 0.70-0.97). Weekly alendronate was associated with a greater risk reduction than daily alendronate. The main findings were unaffected by excluding patients from the analysis who had pulmonary disease, a major co-morbid condition in users of alendronate and an important cause of death.

CONCLUSIONS

The risk of overall deaths from cancer and in particular death caused by colon cancer was significantly and substantially decreased (40%) in patients treated with alendronate, with survival curves deviating progressively after 2 years. Also, the incidence of colon cancer was lower in those patients.

Antidepressant medications and osteoporosis

Use of antidepressant medications that act on the serotonin system has been linked to detrimental impacts on bone mineral density (BMD), and to osteoporosis. This article reviews current evidence for such effects, and identifies themes for future research. Serotonin receptors are found in all major types of bone cell (osteoblasts, osteocytes, and osteoclasts), indicating an important role of the neuroendocrine system in bone. Observational studies indicate a complex relationship between depression, antidepressants, and fracture. First, the presence of depression itself increases fracture risk, in relation with decreased BMD and an increase in falls. A range of aspects of depression may operate, including behavioral factors (e.g., smoking and nutrition), biological changes, and confounders (e.g., comorbidities and concomitant medications). A substantial proportion of depressed patients receive antidepressants, mostly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Some of these have been linked to decreased BMD (SSRIs) and increased fracture risk (SSRIs and tricyclic agents). Current use of SSRIs and tricyclics increases fracture risk by as much as twofold versus nonusers, even after adjustment for potential confounders. While there is a dose-response relationship for SSRIs, the effect does not appear to be homogeneous across the whole class of drugs and may be linked to affinity for the serotonin transporter system. The increase in risk is the greatest in the early stages of treatment, with a dramatic increase after initiation, reaching a peak within 1 month for tricyclics and 8 months for SSRIs. Treatment-associated increased risk diminishes towards baseline in the year following discontinuation. The body of evidence suggests that SSRIs should be considered in the list of medications that are risk factors for osteoporotic fractures.

Risk factors for fracture in elderly men: a population-based prospective study

SUMMARY

Risk factors for fractures were assessed in a random sample of 4,696 elderly men followed for 5.4 years. Results highlighted the importance of assessment of falls and dizziness as well as novel risk factors including frequent urination and erectile dysfunction.

INTRODUCTION

Knowledge about risk factors for fracture in men is limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate factors potentially associated with fracture risk in men.

METHODS

A questionnaire enquiring about potential risk factors for fractures in men was posted to a random sample of 9,314 men aged 60-74 years. A completed questionnaire was returned by 4,696 (50.4%). Follow-up on incident fractures over 5.4 years was performed using public registries.

RESULTS

During the study, 203 individuals experienced a first clinical fracture, of which 85 patients were considered osteoporotic (9 in humerus, 10 vertebral, 32 in the hip and 34 in the forearm). Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to evaluate risk factors for any and osteoporotic fractures. The following variables were found to be associated with increased risk of any fracture in adjusted models family history of a hip fracture (HR; 95%CI: 1.56; 1.05-2.33), falls (2-4/year: 2.10; 1.35-3.27, >4/year: 2.46; 1.12-5.41, both compared to no falls), dizziness (2.36; 1.51-3.71), erectile dysfunction (1.41; 1.06-1.87) and frequent urination (2.06; 1.26-3.39). Similarly, falls (2.36; 1.45-3.86), dizziness (2.83; 1.52-5.25), erectile dysfunction (2.01; 1.30-3.09) and pulmonary illness (1.90; 1.03-3.53) were associated with increased risk of osteoporotic fractures in adjusted models.

CONCLUSION

These results underline the importance of assessment of dizziness, falls and those with a family history of hip fracture. Frequent urination and erectile dysfunction were independently associated with increased fracture risk. Although the mechanism of association is unknown, these variables are likely to be indicators of frailty or hypogonadism.