title: Influence of insurance benefit criteria on the administration rate of osteoporosis drugs in postmenopausal females.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Preventive measures need to be implemented to lower the incidence of osteoporotic fractures. Osteoporotic fractures increase morbidity and mortality as well as impose a socioeconomic burden; however, current research is limited to the administration rates of osteoporosis drugs for Korean postmenopausal females.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study represents a nationwide, observational, and cross-sectional survey that investigates the administration rates of osteoporosis drugs based upon a bone mineral density (BMD) test performed on Korean postmenopausal patients who visited outpatient orthopedic clinics. BMD test results were examined in postmenopausal female patients (50 to 80 years of age); subsequently, the patients were classified into an osteoporosis group, osteopenia group, and normal group. The administration rates of osteoporosis drugs and bisphosphonates were then analyzed. The osteoporosis group was subdivided into a T-score less than -3.0 group and a T-score between -3.0 and -2.5 group that were separately analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on the lumbar spine BMD, the rate of administration of osteoporosis drugs in the osteoporosis group was 42.1%, which was significantly higher compared to the osteopenia group or normal group. A significantly low bone mineral density was observed in patients who were administered bisphosphonates. Based on the lumbar spine BMD, the administration rate of osteoporosis drugs in the group with a T-score between -3.0 and -2.5 (34.2%) was significantly lower than the group with a T-score less that -3.0 (46.2%). The bisphosphonate administration rate was also significantly low; however, the administration rate for osteoporosis drugs was significantly lower than that of the osteopenia group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Only about 40% of Korean postmenopausal female patients with osteoporosis were administered osteoporosis drugs. The administration rate in patients with a T-score between -3.0 and -2.5 was particularly low and active treatment to prevent osteoporotic fractures is required in this group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ; Department of Orthopedic Surgery, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Hyup
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ye-Hyun
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seoung-Hwan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.affiliation: Medical Department, GlaxoSmithKline Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yil-Seob
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007342:Insurance Benefits / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D056910:Republic of Korea
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents
keywords: Bisphophonate; Korean; National Health Insurance Service; Osteoporosis medication; Postmenopausal osteoporosis