title: Trends in the pharmacological treatment of osteoporosis in Spain from 2000 to 2008.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the time trends in anti-osteoporosis medications consumption in Spain between 2000 and 2008 and the influence on such consumption induced by the Information Sheets related to the safety of menopausal hormone therapy and strontium ranelate published by the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Purchase data of anti-osteoporosis medications from 2000 to 2008 were obtained from the Spanish Ministry of Health. This information includes the pharmacy sales data of medicinal products reimbursed by the Spanish National Health Service. Anti-osteoporosis medications consumption data were expressed as defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day in women aged 50 or more.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study period, anti-osteoporosis medications consumption showed a continuous increase. The greatest increase was observed with bisphosphonates, particularly alendronate and risedronate in their weekly formulations. Strontium ranelate consumption was low but continuously increased and new information concerning its safety in 2007 had no effect on its consumption. The use of menopausal hormone therapy remained stable until 2003, and from then presented a continuous decrease until 2008. Raloxifene utilization increased from 2000 to 2004 and decreased thereafter. Calcitonin utilization decreased uninterruptedly and teriparatide was infrequently used.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study reports a marked change in osteoporosis treatment in Spain, which includes an important increase in anti-osteoporosis medication use, particularly of bisphosphonates and a decrease in menopausal hormone therapy use secondary to the new information about their safety.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Farmacovigilancia de Asturias, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Oviedo, Asturias, Spain. salgueiroesther@uniovi.es
authors.forename: M Esther
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Salgueiro
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Manso
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Castells
authors.forename: Francisco J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Jimeno
authors.forename: Lucía
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ordoñez
authors.forename: Verónica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: Dolors
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Capellà
mesh_terms: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013030:Spain
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents