Developments of the incidence of osteoporosis in The Netherlands: a PHARMO study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess recent and to predict future time trends in the incidence of osteoporosis using routine databases in The Netherlands in the period 1993-2015 and to compare estimations based on hip fractures versus a proxy based on pharmacy and hospitalisation data.


METHODS
The incidence of hip fractures was estimated over the period 1986-2002 using information from the Dutch Medical Registry, covering more than 99% of all Dutch hospitalisations. Additionally, a proxy (hospitalisation for osteoporosis or osteoporotic fractures, treatment with glucocorticosteroids or treatment with anti-osteoporosis drugs) was constructed in order to identify osteoporotic patients in the PHARMO database. Age and gender specific incidences of hip fractures and osteoporosis were calculated and extrapolated to The Netherlands. Results of both studies were extrapolated till 2015 using a power function.


RESULTS
The incidence of hip fractures decreased slightly (270 per 100,000 in 1993, 260 per 100,000 in 2002). The incidence of osteoporosis using the constructed proxy decreased from 870 per 100,000 in 1993 to 700 per 100,000 in 2002. The incidence of hip fractures and osteoporosis remained fairly constant when modelled till 2015. Both studies showed the same time trends.


CONCLUSIONS
Both the estimations based on the hospitalisations for hip fracture and on our proxy for osteoporosis showed that the increase in the incidence of osteoporosis as observed in the 1990s is levelling off. Due to ageing of the population the absolute number of hip fractures will however increase. Our definition of osteoporosis resulted in a higher estimation of the incidence of osteoporosis and may be used in future studies to follow developments in osteoporosis prevalence and incidence.
Goettsch
Wim G
WG
PHARMO Institute, 3508 AE Utrecht, The Netherlands. pharmo@pharmo.nl
de Jong
Romy B
RB
Kramarz
Piotr
P
Herings
Ron M C
RM
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004813:Epidemiology / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012042:Registries; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013997:Time Factors
D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents