title: Results of a national multicentric study on compliance to treatment with various disphosphonate formulations in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Compliance to pharmacological treatment for osteoporosis is crucial if the risk of fracture is to be reduced. Case series show that treatment with traditional bisphosphonates in the form of tablets has a compliance of between approximately 30% and 70%. The aims of this paper were to assess compliance to treatment with various formulations of bisphonates and to identify those at highest risk of discontinuation.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this multicentre retrospective observational study, a population of 387 women diagnosed with postmenopausal osteoporosis under treatment with bisphosphonates (risedronate, ibandronate, alendronate in tablet form, alendronate in a fluid solution per os) was observed for at least a year. Demographic data and information pertaining to the type of drug taken, compliance to treatment, side effects, reasons for discontinuation, the basal examination and follow-up at 18 months and later were recorded.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Analysis of patient compliance to a prescribed treatment plan showed a significantly higher persistence (P<0.001) in the group taking alendronate in soluble solution form (83.3%) compared to the group taking any bisphosphonate in tablet form (66.7%). At the same time, patientspresenting comorbidity, receiving more than one therapy, not taking vitamin D, and in surgical menopause, risked discontinuation.
authors.affiliation: Santa Lucia IRCCS Foundation, Rome, Italy - mariodibonito@libero.it.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vinicola
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giampà
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Bonito
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ferretti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nuvoli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Paoletti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piazzini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ranieri
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Tuveri
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019386:Alendronate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077557:Ibandronic Acid; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000068296:Risedronic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004164:Diphosphonates; D000068296:Risedronic Acid; D000077557:Ibandronic Acid; D019386:Alendronate