Osteoporosis practice patterns in 2006 among primary care physicians participating in the NORA study.
This study investigated osteoporosis management trends from 1998 to 2006 among 808 primary care physicians involved in the US-based NORA (National Osteoporosis Risk Assessment) study. These results suggest some significant improvements in osteoporosis management over the past eight years.


BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to investigate osteoporosis management trends among a large cohort of primary care physicians (PCPs) involved in the US-based NORA (National Osteoporosis Risk Assessment) study.


METHODS
In 2006, we undertook a resurvey of the 2,836 NORA PCPs who completed a baseline survey in 1998. Of the 2,199 PCPs for whom we had current contact information and who were still practicing, we collected usable surveys from 808 (37% response rate).


RESULTS
From 1998 to 2006, more than double the percentage of NORA PCPs reported using BMDs "often" (35% vs. 87%). There was a doubling of the percentage of NORA PCPs who reported that a T-score of < or = -2.5 was the threshold indicating the presence of osteoporosis (34% vs. 67%). The percentage of NORA PCPs who reported using bone turnover markers to screen, diagnosis, or monitor osteoporosis almost tripled (19% vs. 55%). The percentage of patients prescribed or recommended hormone therapy dropped sixfold (67% to 11%), and the percentage of patients prescribed bisphosphonates increased fourfold from 15% to 59%.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest some significant improvements in osteoporosis management over the past eight years.
Weiss
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US Outcomes Research, Merck & Co. Inc., PO Box 4 (WP39-166), West Point, PA 19486, USA. thomas_weiss@merck.com
Siris
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ES
Barrett-Connor
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E
Miller
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PD
McHorney
C A
CA
D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D015519:Bone Density; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016723:Bone Remodeling; D002118:Calcium / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage
D015415:Biomarkers; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D014815:Vitamins; D002118:Calcium