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.

Osteoporosis pharmacotherapy following bone densitometry: importance of patient beliefs and understanding of DXA results

SUMMARY

Persistence with osteoporosis therapy remains low and identification of factors associated with better persistence is essential in preventing osteoporosis and fractures. In this study, patient understanding of dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) results and beliefs in effects of treatment were associated with treatment initiation and persistence.

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study is to examine patient understanding of their DXA results and evaluate factors associated with initiation of and persistence with prescribed medication in first-time users of anti-osteoporotic agents. Self-reported DXA results reflect patient understanding of diagnosis and may influence acceptance of osteoporosis therapy. To improve patient understanding of DXA results, we provided written information to patients and their referring general practitioner (GP), and evaluated factors associated with osteoporosis treatment initiation and 1-year persistence.

METHODS

Information on diagnosis was mailed to 1,000 consecutive patients and their GPs after DXA testing. One year after, a questionnaire was mailed to all patients to evaluate self-report of DXA results, drug initiation and 1-year persistence. Quadratic weighted kappa was used to estimate agreement between self-report and actual DXA results. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate predictors of understanding of diagnosis, and correlates of treatment initiation and persistence.

RESULTS

A total of 717 patients responded (72%). Overall, only 4% were unaware of DXA results. Agreement between self-reported and actual DXA results was very good (κ = 0.83); younger age and glucocorticoid use were associated with better understanding. Correctly reported DXA results was associated with treatment initiation (OR 4.3, 95% CI 1.2-15.1, p = 0.02), and greater beliefs in drug treatment benefits were associated with treatment initiation (OR 1.4, 95%CI 1.1-1.9, p = 0.006) and persistence with therapy (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.2-2.7, p = 0.006).

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that written information provides over 80% of patients with a basic understanding of their DXA results. Communicating results in writing may improve patient understanding thereby also improve osteoporosis management and prevention.

Plasma levels of interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein are associated with physical inactivity independent of obesity

It is recognized that the path from physical inactivity and obesity to lifestyle-related diseases involves low-grade inflammation, indicated by elevated plasma levels of inflammatory markers. Interestingly, contracting skeletal muscle is a major source of circulating interleukin-6 (IL-6) in response to acute exercise, but with a markedly lower response in trained subjects. As C-reactive protein (CRP) is induced by IL-6, we hypothesized that basal levels of IL-6 and CRP reflect the degree of regular physical activity when compared with other markers of inflammation associated with lifestyle-related morbidity. Fasting plasma/serum levels of IL-6, IL-18, CRP, tumur necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), soluble TNF receptor II (sTNF-RII), and adiponectin were measured in healthy non-diabetic men and women (n=84). The amount of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) was assessed by interview. Obesity was associated with elevated insulin, C-peptide, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, IL-6, CRP, and adiponectin (all P<0.05). Importantly, physical inactivity was associated with elevated C-peptide (P=0.036), IL-6 (P=0.014), and CRP (P=0.007) independent of obesity, age, gender, and smoking. Furthermore, the LTPA score was inversely associated with IL-6 (P=0.017) and CRP (P=0.005), but with neither of the other markers. The results indicate that low levels of IL-6 and CRP - not IL-18, TNF-alpha, sTNF-RII, or adiponectin - reflect regular physical activity.

Bone mineral density and biochemical markers of bone turnover in patients with predialysis chronic renal failure

BACKGROUND

Metabolic bone disease might commence early in the course of renal failure. This study therefore examined the frequency and severity of the skeletal changes in predialysis chronic renal failure by measurements of bone mineral density (BMD), biochemical markers of bone turnover (osteocalcin, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, carboxy terminal propeptide of type I collagen, and carboxy-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen), parathyroid hormone (PTH), ionized calcium (Ca++), phosphate (P), and vitamin D metabolites.

METHODS

The study was performed in 113 patients (male/female: 82/31) with chronic renal diseases [mean glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 37 ml/min] and in 89 matched, normal control subjects.

RESULTS

The patients had significantly (P<0.05) reduced BMD in the spine (-6.3%), the femur (-12.1%), the forearm (-5.7%), and the total body (-4.2%) as compared with the control subjects. Dividing the patients into quartiles according to GFR revealed that BMD decreased with the gradual decline in renal function at all the measured skeletal sites, but was most pronounced in the femur: 0.63+/-0.03, 0.74+/-0.02, 0.77+/-0.02, and 0.82+/-0.03 g/cm2 in each quartile from lowest to highest GFR compared with 0.82+/-0.02 g/cm2 in the control group (P<0.0001). All of the measured bone markers showed increasing plasma levels with the more advanced stages of renal failure. Serum PTH and serum P levels increased, whereas serum Ca++ and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D decreased. BMD Z-scores of the femur and of the forearm correlated to the biochemical markers and to PTH (P<0.05 to P<0.0001). The biochemical markers all showed strong correlations to PTH, also when corrected for the effect of the decline in GFR (r = 0.40 to 0.92, P<0.01 to P< 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Skeletal changes are initiated at an early stage of chronic renal failure, as estimated from reduced BMD and elevated levels of PTH and from the biochemical markers of both bone formation and bone resorption.

Impact of peripheral neuropathy on bone density in patients with type 1 diabetes

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether peripheral neuropathy (PN), as part of the microangiopathic complex, affects bone mineral density (BMD) of the peripheral or the axial skeleton in patients with type 1 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Three study groups were examined. Group 1 comprised 21 males with type 1 diabetes and severe PN with a mean (range) duration of diabetes of 28 (9-59) years and an HbA1c of 8.2% (6.3-10.4). Group 2 comprised 21 male type 1 diabetic patients with absent or mild PN matched to patients of group 1 regarding age, weight, and duration of diabetes. Group 3 comprised 21 control subjects. BMD was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and by quantitative ultrasound of the calcaneus. PN was determined by biothesiometry. Levels of physical activity were assessed through guided questionnaires.

RESULTS

In group 1, BMD was significantly reduced at all measured sites, compared with an expected Z score of 0 (spine, -1.01 +/- 0.34; femur, -0.94 +/- 0.25; forearm, -1.10 +/- 0.36). To a lesser extent, but still significantly, group 2 also showed reduced BMD values (spine, -0.60 +/- 0.26; femur, -0.55 +/- 0.25; forearm, -1.05 +/- 0.36), whereas group 3 had normal BMD values (-0.23 +/- 0.25, -0.10 +/- 0.21, -0.07 +/- 0.25, respectively). Group 1 had lower mean BMD levels than group 2 and group 3 at all measured sites, but a significant difference was found only between groups 1 and 3 at the site of the femur (analysis of variance, P < 0.05). Broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) of the calcaneus was significantly reduced in group 1 compared with groups 2 and 3 (108 +/- 3 vs. 115 +/- 2 and 115 +/- 2). Significant correlations between all DEXA measurements and BUA were demonstrated in both groups 1 and 2 (r values between 0.54 and 0.75). No significant differences in physical activity levels or body composition were demonstrated between the two patient groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The present results suggest that in patients with type 1 diabetes, PN may be an independent risk factor for reduced BMD in the affected limbs as well as in the skeleton in general.

Regulators of calcium homeostasis and bone mineral density in patients with Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND

Several papers have reported on vitamin D, parathyroid hormone (PTH), and other regulators of calcium metabolism in patients with Crohn's disease, but results have been conflicting. Bone mineral density (BMD) has been found to be reduced in several papers. A recent study from our laboratory suggested that the expected reduction in BMD disappears when the patients are compared with sex-, age-, and weight-matched healthy controls. The relationship between BMD and regulators of calcium homeostasis is not well established in patients with Crohn's disease.

METHODS

BMD and biochemical regulators of calcium metabolism were measured in 115 unselected patients with Crohn's disease, most of whom were in remission.

RESULTS

Vitamin D deficiency (25-OHD < or = 10 pg/ml) was present in 44% of patients. Secondary hyperparathyroidism was present in 2% of unoperated patients and in 18% of patients subjected to bowel operations.

CONCLUSIONS

1) Vitamin D deficiency is common in patients with Crohn's disease even when the disease is in remission and regardless of the location of the disease. 2) Secondary hyperparathyroidism is most frequently seen in patients who have undergone intestinal resection(s). 3) PTH correlates with BMD in a large group of unselected patients with Crohn's disease; 25-OHD only correlates with BMD of the forearm.

Spontaneous and/or training-induced haemodynamic changes after myocardial infarction

Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) determinations and haemodynamic studies at rest and during two submaximal exercise levels (60 and 85% of the maximal) were performed in 30 male patients under 60 yr of age, 2, 5 and 8 mth after an uncomplicated myocardial infarction. Fourteen patients participated in a physical training programme during the first 3 mth of the study, while 16 patients attended the training during the second 3-mth period. An increase in VO2max occurred at 5 mth in both groups, 16 and 11%, respectively. Corresponding to this improvement cardiac index (CI) at the same relative submaximal work load increased similarly in the two groups. During the second period of the study only slight increments in VO2max and no salient alterations of the haemodynamics were recorded within or between the two groups. The linear relationship between oxygen uptake and CI was not affected throughout the study. As the work load was augmented from 60 to 85% of the maximal during the exercise test, the stroke volume index did not tend to fall. Our data suggest that allowing all patients to resume work in the very early rehabilitation period after an uncomplicated myocardial infarction, the improvement in physical work capacity and cardiac function is not significantly affected by a training programme of low intensity and short weekly duration.