title: The relationship between bisphosphonate use and demographic characteristics of male osteoporosis patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to investigate a number of demographic characteristics in males with osteoporosis (OP) treated with bisphosphonate and determine whether any of these measures could act as an effective indicator of medication persistence and compliance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Among the patients with OP who applied to our clinic and were prescribed weekly oral bisphosphonate treatment, 89 patients over 50 years of age were included in this study. The demographic characteristics of these patients were evaluated. The number of medications used by the patients over the past 1 and 3 years were counted, and the persistence and compliance with bisphosphonate treatment was estimated. The patients were divided into two groups: fully compliant and noncompliant subjects. The two groups of patients were compared separately for 1 and 3 years while considering their demographic characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the 89 patients included in the study was 62.43 ± 9.41 years. Comparisons among the studied demographic characteristics during the 1-year period of medication use indicated that the educational status of the fully compliant patients was higher. During the 3-year period of medication use, educational status was the only demographic characteristic that was determined to be significantly lower in the noncompliant patients than in the fully compliant group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although deficiencies in medication persistence and compliance during osteoporosis treatment can lead to serious health and social problems in both genders, the causes of these deficiencies have not been thoroughly clarified. We suggest that the educational status of the patient may contribute to these deficiencies.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health Ankara Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Training and Research Hospital, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Alev
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cevikoi
authors.forename: Ebru
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Umay
authors.forename: Sevgi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Polat
authors.forename: Oznur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ecerkale
authors.forename: Aytul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cakci
mesh_terms: D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003710:Demography; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004522:Educational Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D004164:Diphosphonates