Physician's awareness of the prevention of corticosteroid induced osteoporosis.
OBJECTIVE
Corticosteroid induced osteoporosis (CIO) is a preventable condition that is often not realized by physicians who prescribe corticosteroids. The present study was carried out to study the awareness of CIO prevention in a teaching hospital.


METHODS
The medical records of patients who received corticosteroids equivalent to prednisolone of > or = 5 mg/day for a minimum of 3 months between 1 May 2004 and 30 June 2004 were reviewed.


RESULTS
Four hundred and forty nine patients of 1,540 who received corticosteroids (29.1%) were included in the present study. Rheumatologists, nephrologists, and dermatologists were the top three specialists to prescribe corticosteroids in 189 (42.1%), 103 (23.0%), and 46 (10.2%) cases, respectively. Only 146 patients (32.5%) received calcium supplement. Rheumatologists and neurologists were the top two specialists to prescribe calcium supplementation in 100 of 189 (52.9%) and 13 of 36 (36.1%) cases, respectively. Bone mineral density measurement was determined in only 26 of the 449 patients (5.8%).


CONCLUSIONS
Prevention of CIO is still neglected by internal medicine specialists, even in a teaching hospital. An educational campaign for physicians is warranted to improve the practice for the prevention of this treatable complication.
Ungprasert
Supparat
S
Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Wangkaew
Suparaporn
S
Louthrenoo
Worawit
W
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002118:Calcium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011239:Prednisolone; D002118:Calcium