Ann Rheum Dis 1998;57:378-379 ( June )

Concise reports

Prescribing by general practitioners after an osteoporotic fracture David J Torgerson, Paul Dolan

Centre for Health Economics, University of York, York YO1 5DD

Correspondence to: David Torgerson.

Accepted for publication 27 March 1998

OBJECTIVESOsteoporosis is a major cause of morbidity and cost. Patients sustaining one osteoporotic fracture are at increased risk of having another fracture. The objective of this study was to examine the use of "bone drugs" for the prevention of further osteoporotic fractures among patients who have had a "typical" osteoporotic fracture.
METHODSThis study took a random sample of 300 women aged 50 and over who had sustained either a vertebral, hip or Colles fracture in 1995 from the General Practice Research Database (GPRD) and compared their use of bone drugs with 300 age and practice matched controls.
RESULTSCompared with age and practice matched control patients only vertebral fracture patients showed a statistically significant increase in the use of bone drugs in the year after fracture (39% and 2% for cases and controls respectively; 95% CI of difference 27% to 47%). Etidronate was the most commonly used compound.
CONCLUSIONThe majority of patients sustaining an osteoporotic fracture are not prescribed any pharmaceutical agents for the secondary prevention of fracture one year after a primary fracture.

Keywords: osteoporosis; fracture

---

© 1998 by Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Gong, H. S., Oh, W. S., Chung, M. S., Oh, J. H., Lee, Y. H., Baek, G. H. (2009). Patients with Wrist Fractures Are Less Likely to Be Evaluated and Managed for Osteoporosis. JBJS 91: 2376-2380 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Dunbar, M. J., Howard, A., Bogoch, E. R., Parvizi, J., Kreder, H. J. (2009). Orthopaedics in 2020: Predictors of Musculoskeletal Need. JBJS 91: 2276-2286 [Full Text]  
• Miki, R. A., Oetgen, M. E., Kirk, J., Insogna, K. L., Lindskog, D. M. (2008). Orthopaedic Management Improves the Rate of Early Osteoporosis Treatment After Hip Fracture. A Randomized Clinical Trial. JBJS 90: 2346-2353 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Rozental, T. D., Makhni, E. C., Day, C. S., Bouxsein, M. L. (2008). Improving Evaluation and Treatment for Osteoporosis Following Distal Radial Fractures. A Prospective Randomized Intervention. JBJS 90: 953-961 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Nadrash, T A., Plushner, S. L., Delate, T. (2008). Clinical Pharmacists' Role in Improving Osteoporosis Treatment Rates Among Elderly Patients with Untreated Atraumatic Fractures. The Annals of Pharmacotherapy 42: 334-340 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Majumdar, S. R., Beaupre, L. A., Harley, C. H., Hanley, D. A., Lier, D. A., Juby, A. G., Maksymowych, W. P., Cinats, J. G., Bell, N. R., Morrish, D. W. (2007). Use of a Case Manager to Improve Osteoporosis Treatment After Hip Fracture: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial. Arch Intern Med 167: 2110-2115 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Solomon, D. H., Morris, C., Cheng, H., Cabral, D., Katz, J. N., Finkelstein, J. S., Avorn, J. (2005). Medication Use Patterns for Osteoporosis: An Assessment of Guidelines, Treatment Rates, and Quality Improvement Interventions. Mayo Clin Proc. 80: 194-202 [Abstract]  
• Gardner, M. J., Brophy, R. H., Demetrakopoulos, D., Koob, J., Hong, R., Rana, A., Lin, J. T., Lane, J. M. (2005). Interventions to Improve Osteoporosis Treatment Following Hip Fracture. A Prospective, Randomized Trial. JBJS 87: 3-7 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Majumdar, S. R., Rowe, B. H., Folk, D., Johnson, J. A., Holroyd, B. H., Morrish, D. W., Maksymowych, W. P., Steiner, I. P., Harley, C. H., Wirzba, B. J., Hanley, D. A., Blitz, S., Russell, A. S. (2004). A Controlled Trial To Increase Detection and Treatment of Osteoporosis in Older Patients with a Wrist Fracture. ANN INTERN MED 141: 366-373 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Porthouse, J., Birks, Y.F., Torgerson, D.J., Cockayne, S., Puffer, S., Watt, I. (2004). Risk factors for fracture in a UK population: a prospective cohort study. QJM 97: 569-574 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Whitehead, D., Keast, J., Montgomery, V., Hayman, S. (2004). A multidisciplinary osteoporosis service-based action research study. Health Education Journal 63: 347-361 [Abstract]  
• Brown, S. A., Sharpless, J. L. (2004). Osteoporosis: An Under-appreciated Complication of Diabetes. Clin. Diabetes 22: 10-20 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Feldstein, A. C., Nichols, G. A., Elmer, P. J., Smith, D. H., Aickin, M., Herson, M. (2003). Older Women with Fractures: Patients Falling Through the Cracks of Guideline-Recommended Osteoporosis Screening and Treatment. JBJS 85: 2294-2302 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Feldstein, A., Elmer, P. J., Orwoll, E., Herson, M., Hillier, T. (2003). Bone Mineral Density Measurement and Treatment for Osteoporosis in Older Individuals With Fractures: A Gap in Evidence-Based Practice Guideline Implementation. Arch Intern Med 163: 2165-2172 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Ettinger, M. P. (2003). Aging Bone and Osteoporosis: Strategies for Preventing Fractures in the Elderly. Arch Intern Med 163: 2237-2246 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Andrade, S. E., Majumdar, S. R., Chan, K. A., Buist, S. M., Go, A. S., Goodman, M., Smith, D. H., Platt, R., Gurwitz, J. H. (2003). Low Frequency of Treatment of Osteoporosis Among Postmenopausal Women Following a Fracture. Arch Intern Med 163: 2052-2057 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Siris, E. S., Bilezikian, J. P., Rubin, M. R., Black, D. M., Bockman, R. S., Bone, H. G., Hochberg, M. C., McClung, M. R., Schnitzer, T. J. (2003). Pins and Plaster Aren't Enough: A Call for the Evaluation and Treatment of Patients with Osteoporotic Fractures. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 88: 3482-3486 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Koval, K. J., Meek, R., Schemitsch, E., Liporace, F., Strauss, E., Zuckerman, J. D. (2003). An AOA Critical Issue. Geriatric Trauma: Young Ideas. JBJS 85: 1380-1388 [Full Text]  
• Kiebzak, G. M., Beinart, G. A., Perser, K., Ambrose, C. G., Siff, S. J., Heggeness, M. H. (2002). Undertreatment of Osteoporosis in Men With Hip Fracture. Arch Intern Med 162: 2217-2222 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Gardner, M. J., Flik, K. R., Mooar, P., Lane, J. M. (2002). Improvement in the Undertreatment of Osteoporosis Following Hip Fracture. JBJS 84: 1342-1348 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Iglesias, C.P., Torgerson, D.J., Bearne, A., Bose, U. (2002). The cost utility of bisphosphonate treatment in established osteoporosis. QJM 95: 305-311 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Cuddihy, M.-T., Gabriel, S. E., Crowson, C. S., Atkinson, E. J., Tabini, C., O'Fallon, W. M., Melton III, L. J. (2002). Osteoporosis Intervention Following Distal Forearm Fractures: A Missed Opportunity?. Arch Intern Med 162: 421-426 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Cadarette, S. M., Jaglal, S. B., Murray, T. M., McIsaac, W. J., Joseph, L., Brown, J. P., for the Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study, (2001). Evaluation of Decision Rules for Referring Women for Bone Densitometry by Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry. JAMA 286: 57-63 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Madhok, R., Kerr, H., Capell, H. A (2000). Recent advances: Rheumatology. BMJ 321: 882-885 [Full Text]  
• GEORGE, G. H. M., PATEL, S. (2000). Secondary prevention of hip fracture. Rheumatology (Oxford) 39: 346-349 [Full Text]  
• Torgerson, D. J, Dolan, P., Compston, J. (1999). Advice given to patients with fractures. BMJ 318: 1698-1698 [Full Text]