title: Management of osteoporosis and associated quality of life in post menopausal women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The study aimed to describe the characteristics of women treated for recently-diagnosed osteoporosis, to identify variables associated with different treatment regimens and to assess impact on quality of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is an observational, cross-sectional pharmacoepidemiological study performed in France. A random sample of 684 general practitioners, gynaecologists and rheumatologists included the first three post-menopausal osteoporotic women consulting in the previous six months on the basis of densitometry or fracture. Data on osteoporosis, fracture risk factors, treatments and comorbidities was collected with a physician questionnaire. Data on quality of life was collected using the SF-12.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data were analysed for 1,306 patients, of whom 1,117 (85.5%) had been evaluated by densitometry within the previous six months and 554 (42.4%) had experienced a fracture, most frequently of the spine or wrist within the previous six months. Osteoporotic fracture risk factors were reported in 1,028 women (78.7%). 746 women (57.1%) were currently receiving treatment, most frequently weekly or monthly bisphosphonates. Five variables were associated with prescription choice: age (p < 0.0001), physician speciality (p < 0.0001), previous fracture history (p = 0.0002), ongoing treatment at the time of consultation (p = 0.0091) and paraclinical investigations performed in the previous six months (p = 0.0060). SF-12 scores were lower in women complaining of pain, with recent fractures and with spine or hip fractures and in women consulting rheumatologists.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A high proportion of women diagnosed with osteoporosis had been evaluated by densitometry, in agreement with national guidelines. Treatment choice varied between physician groups.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire GlaxoSmithKline, Marly-le-Roi, France.
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cortet
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Blotman
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Debiais
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Huas
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mercier
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rousseaux
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: Anne-Françoise
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Gaudin
authors.forename: François-Emery
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Cotté
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002102:Cadaver; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D011859:Radiography
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents