Epidemiology, treatment and costs of osteoporosis in Germany--the BoneEVA Study.
BACKGROUND
In Germany, accurate data on the prevalence and treatment of osteoporosis, as well as the cost of this illness, are not available. The aim of this study is to give a valid estimation of these items for the year 2003.


METHODS
Routine data from a German sickness fund covering 1.5 million beneficiaries and billing data for outpatient visits were used to obtain estimates of prevalence for osteoporosis. Claims data for patients with osteoporosis (M80, M81) or an osteoporosis-related fracture diagnosis (S22, S32, S42, S52, S72, S82) or treatment with anti-osteoporosis drugs were examined. Costs were calculated from the perspective of the German health insurance system and the German nursing care insurance system, respectively. Only direct costs of osteoporosis were considered.


RESULTS
In 2003, 7.8 million Germans (6.5 million women) were affected by osteoporosis. Of them, 4.3% experienced at least one clinical fracture. Only 21.7% were treated with an anti-osteoporosis drug. The total direct costs attributable to osteoporosis amounted to euros 5.4 billion.


CONCLUSIONS
This study confirms that osteoporosis is underdiagnosed, undertreated and imposes a considerable economic burden on the health system in Germany. Effective strategies for the prevention and management of this disease are needed.
Häussler
B
B
IGES Institute for Healthcare and Social Research Ltd., Wichmannstrasse 5, 10787 Berlin, Germany. iges@iges.de
Gothe
H
H
Göl
D
D
Glaeske
G
G
Pientka
L
L
Felsenberg
D
D
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution
D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents