Patient compliance with alendronate, risedronate and raloxifene for the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
The aim was to investigate patient compliance with different osteoporosis medications commonly prescribed in clinical practice, to determine risk factors associated with discontinuation and to evaluate quality of life changes.


METHODS
We conducted a 1-year observational study of patients of age > or = 60 years in a clinical setting at 917 sites in 10 European countries (Germany, Greece, UK, Sweden, Netherlands, Romania, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Estonia), Lebanon and South Africa. Demographic data, concomitant diseases, the reasons for intervention, educational, socio-economical status and disease knowledge were captured at baseline. Self-reported compliance, discontinuation data and health status were collected.


METHODS
Out of 5198 patients, 3490 (67.1%) patients received 60 mg daily raloxifene (RAL), 452 (8.7%) 10 mg daily alendronate (AQD), 769 (14.8%) 70 mg once weekly alendronate (AQW) and 487 (9.4%) 5 mg daily risedronate (RIS). Among patients completing the study (4231, 81%), the percentage of patients with high compliance was 80% (RAL), 79% (AQD), 65% (AQW) and 76% (RIS). The discontinuation due to side effects was highest on AQW (7.0%), followed by AQD (6.4%), RAL (3.8%) and RIS (3.4%). The discontinuation-rate was higher for patients with a history of surgical menopause, increased age, lack of knowledge about medical prevention of osteoporosis and thin frame as a reason for intervention. The EQ-5D weighted index showed the highest improvement for RIS (0.13), followed by RAL (0.11), AQD (0.08) and AQW (0.07).


CONCLUSIONS
Data from this non-interventional observational study indicate moderate overall compliance and discontinuation rate with the prescribed osteoporosis medications.
Ringe
J D
JD
Medical Department IV, Hospital Leverkusen, University of Cologne, Leverkusen, Germany. ringe@klinikum-lev.de
Christodoulakos
G E
GE
Mellström
D
D
Petto
H
H
Nickelsen
T
T
Marín
F
F
Pavo
I
I
D019386:Alendronate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D012968:Etidronic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017698:Postmenopause; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068296:Risedronic Acid
D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride; D000068296:Risedronic Acid; D012968:Etidronic Acid; D019386:Alendronate