Two years adherence to anti-osteoporotic medications in postmenopausal Israeli women.

UNLABELLED: Treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis comprises a major public health challenge requiring adherence to long-term therapy in order to prevent fractures and disability. The aim of this work was to assess long-term adherence to anti-osteoporosis treatments in Israeli postmenopausal women. We assessed 178 consecutive Metabolic Bone Diseases Unit patients, aged 67.4+/-8.5, treated with alendronate or raloxifene. Adherence was assessed at a clinic visit after 6 months and by telephone survey 2 years after starting the therapy. After 6 months 137 (77%) patients were adhered to the treatment; 41(23%) discontinued it. Two years after initiating the therapy 78 (43.8%) continued the treatment, 39 (21.9%) discontinued it, 17 (9.6%) changed the initial drug to another anti-osteoporosis therapy, 21 (11.8%) lost to follow-up. Of 41 patients reported treatment discontinuation at 6 months 17 (41.5%) restarted the treatment with one of the anti-resorbing medications. Age, family history of osteoporosis and previous fracture history have not influenced patients' adherence.

CONCLUSION

Two years after the initiation of fracture prevention treatment, it was discontinued by one fifth of the patients. Neither age nor disease-related factors such as family history of osteoporosis, previous fracture history or the degree of bone loss influenced patients' decision to adhere to treatment.