Osteoporosis treatment in postmenopausal women after peripheral fractures: impact of information to general practitioners.
A low-impact fracture in a postmenopausal woman should prompt investigations for osteoporosis followed, if needed, by appropriate treatment.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the impact of information alerting general practitioners to the need for osteoporosis treatment in postmenopausal women with a recent history of peripheral fracture.


METHODS
We conducted a prospective 7-month follow-up study of 78 postmenopausal women, with a mean age of 81.5 years, admitted to the emergency department for peripheral fractures. Three months after the fracture, we sent a letter to the general practitioner of each patient emphasizing the probable contribution of osteoporosis to the fracture and the need for osteoporosis treatment. Six months after the fracture, we interviewed the patients by telephone, and one month later we mailed a questionnaire to those physicians who had not followed the treatment recommendation.


RESULTS
At emergency room admission, 9 patients were receiving treatment for osteoporosis (hormone replacement therapy in one patient and calcium and vitamin D supplementation in eight patients). Admission to a ward was required in 66 (85%) patients. No treatment for osteoporosis was given at discharge. Six months after discharge, seven patients reported recent initiation of calcium and vitamin D supplementation, and none reported other osteoporosis treatments. The response rate to the physician questionnaire mailed 7 months after discharge was 54% (n=28); responses showed treatment of 11 additional patients, by calcium and vitamin D supplementation in six cases and by bisphosphonates with or without calcium and vitamin D supplementation in five cases. Treatment initiation rates were similar in patients younger and older than 80 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite information of general practitioners about the need for osteoporosis treatment, such treatment was initiated in only 30.5% of patients. General practitioners may be reluctant to initiate osteoporosis treatment in patients who are very old or have multiple comorbidities.
Malochet-Guinamand
Sandrine
S
Rheumatology Department, Gabriel Montpied Hospital, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France. sandrine.malochet-guinamand@wanadoo.fr
Chalard
Nathalie
N
Billault
Claire
C
Breuil
Nadine
N
Ristori
Jean-Michel
JM
Schmidt
Jeannot
J
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002118:Calcium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000627:therapeutic use
D014807:Vitamin D; D002118:Calcium