Propensity of gynaecologists towards osteoporosis management and treatment.
BACKGROUND
Regulation authorities have recently advised against the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as a first choice treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis, modifying the past consensus.


OBJECTIVE
Analyse the sensibility to and prescription attitude for osteoporosis.


METHODS
Survey.


METHODS
Belgian gynaecologists.


METHODS
Case construction: two cases to assess whether gynaecologists are prone to detect osteoporosis, and six others to evaluate their prescription attitude for osteoporosis.


RESULTS
About 80% of the physicians would prescribe a bone mineral density measurement (BMD) to a 66-year-old, non HRT user. About 60% prescribed calcium and Vitamin D when the BMD was normal, 90% would prescribe it when the BMD showed osteopenia or osteoporosis (p < 0.001). Few prescribed HRT (< 25%). Few advised SERMS for normal BMD, 19%-47% prescribed it in osteopenia or osteoporosis (p < 0.001). Few considered a biphosphonate in normal BMD, or osteopenia in the absence of risk factors, 25% considered it in osteopenia in the presence of risk factors, and 80% in osteoporosis (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Most gynaecologists are aware of the osteoporosis problem. They often screen non HRT users and in the event of osteoporosis, they initiate a specific treatment, not HRT, but generally a combination of calcium, Vitamin D and biphosphonates.
Rozenberg
Serge
S
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology CHU Saint-Pierre, Université Libre de Buxelles, 322 rue Haute, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. serge.rozenberg@skynet.be
Murillo
Daniel
D
Gevers
Rudy
R
Vandromme
Jean
J
D001530:Belgium; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology / Q000639:trends*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000188:drug therapy*
D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents