(P-251) Anti-osteoporosis Treatment After a Major Osteoporotic Fracture Is Often Lacking

Background: A large proportion of patients with a high fracture risk does not receive anti-osteoporosis treatment.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the proportion of patients with a major osteoporotic fracture who received anti-osteoporosis treatment in the period 2014-2018.

Methods: For this cohort study, data from the PHARMO Database Network were used. Patients ≥50 years with a major osteoporotic fracture in the period 2014-2018 were selected from the General Practitioner Database. Major osteoporotic fractures were defined as a fracture of the wrist, humerus, femur, or vertebrae. Use of anti-osteoporosis medication (drugs affecting bone structure and mineralization (ATC M05B), teriparatide (ATC H05AA02), and raloxifene (ATC G03XC01)) in the 6 and 12 months following the fracture was examined in the Out-patient Pharmacy Database (all medication types) and the General Practitioner Database (intravenous infusions/ injections only).

Results: The study population included 13,993 patients with a major osteoporotic fracture. Mean age was 74 (±11) years and 74% was women. In the 6 months after the fracture 20% of the patients had at least one dispensing/prescription of anti-osteoporosis medication. After 12 months this was 23%. In the total study population, the use of anti-osteoporosis medication was stable over the study period, but some fluctuations were observed depending on the fracture type. The proportion of patients using anti-osteoporosis medication within 6 months was highest among patients with a vertebral fracture (35-43%) and patients aged 70-79 years (24%) and was lowest among patients aged 50-59 years (10%). These differences in medication use according to age were observed for all fracture types.

Conclusions: The current study showed an alarmingly low, but stable proportion of patients ≥50 years with a major osteoporotic fracture who received treatment within 6 or 12 months. As a result of the aging population, the absolute number of age-related fractures and the consequences of the treatment gap is expected to increase.