New Survey Shows Gap in Diagnosis & Treatment of Osteoporosis Among Post-Menopausal Women Studied Who Were Hospitalized with ...
November 13 2009 - 3:00AM
Business Wire
New results from a survey of 1,122 post-menopausal women in Asia
found that nearly half (48.5 percent) were not aware whether or not
they had osteoporosis despite being hospitalized with a fragility
fracture. A fragility fracture is one potential indicator of
osteoporosis, along with BMD measurements, family history and other
factors, according to International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF).
Of the women who were told that they have osteoporosis (51.5
percent), 40.5 percent did not receive any treatment. The results
of this survey, which was conducted in Hong Kong SAR, Thailand,
South Korea, mainland China, Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan region,
were presented at the 1st Scientific Meeting of the Asian
Federation of Osteoporosis Societies. The survey was conducted by
MSD, also known in the United States and Canada as Merck.
A fragility fracture occurs in a non-traumatic situation where
bones would not break under normal force; these fractures are often
considered a strong clinical indicator in the diagnosis of
osteoporosis in post-menopausal women, along with other factors
considered. According to the IOF, the incidence of hip fracture has
risen two-to-three-fold in most Asian countries in the past 30
years and IOF estimates that more than 50 percent of all
osteoporotic hip fractures will occur in Asia by the year 2050.
Guidelines from the IOF recommend that postmenopausal women with a
previous hip or vertebral fracture can be considered for
osteoporosis treatment along with other factors.
"This study involves data from seven Asian countries/regions to
document the treatment gap of fracture patients," said Professor
Annie Kung, lead investigator. "It reminds us of the urgency we
have to address this important disease in Asia."
Among the patients who were diagnosed as having osteoporosis
(n=576), 8.1 percent received only an osteoporosis medication, 26.5
percent received vitamin supplementations, 24.9 percent were
treated with both medications and supplements and 40.5 percent did
not receive any medication or vitamin supplementation. Patients
aged 65-79 years were significantly more likely to receive
osteoporosis medications than patients in other age groups.
Patients who received a bone mineral density (BMD) screening
were more likely to receive an osteoporosis diagnosis (10.1 odds
ratio) than patients who reported a prior history of fracture only
(0.8 odds ratio). Similarly, patients who had a BMD test were more
likely to be on osteoporosis medication (1.79 odds ratio) than
those with a prior history of fracture only (1.05 odds ratio).
Fracture history is one important indicator for osteoporosis
screening and diagnosis.
Study design
The cross-sectional, observational study included 1,122 eligible
female patients of mean age 72.9 years who were hospitalized due to
a non-traumatic fracture between July 1, 2006 and June 30, 2007.
Interviews were conducted face-to-face and by telephone during a
6-month period following hospitalization to assess awareness of
having osteoporosis, BMD screening and osteoporosis treatment.
Patient demographics, family history, smoking, alcohol drinking,
fracture history and knowledge and belief about osteoporosis were
also collected in the survey.
About BMD and osteoporosis
Bone mineral density (BMD) is the amount of mineralized bone
tissue in a certain volume of bone. It is measured through a
non-invasive test to detect low bone density, which helps diagnose
osteoporosis and predict an individual’s fracture risk.
Osteoporosis, a disease in which the density and strength of bone
are reduced, affects more than 75 million people in the United
States, Europe, South America, Japan and Australia. The underlying
mechanism for the development of osteoporosis is an imbalance in
the body's natural processes of bone resorption (breakdown of
existing bone at the cellular level) and bone formation (creation
of new bone at the cellular level). Excessive bone resorption and
inadequate bone formation can cause bones to become more porous and
fragile, which in turn increases the risk of fractures. The most
commonly recognized fractures associated with osteoporosis are at
the hip, spine and wrist. The risk of having an
osteoporosis-related fracture increases with age. One in three
women over age 50 will experience an osteoporotic fracture, as will
one in four men. According to the International Osteoporosis
Foundation (IOF), the worldwide incidence of hip fracture is
projected to increase by 240 percent in women and 310 percent in
men by 2050.
About MSD
Today's MSD is working to help the world be well. Through our
medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, and consumer and animal
products, we work with customers and operate in more than 140
countries to deliver innovative health solutions. We also
demonstrate our commitment to increasing access to healthcare
through far-reaching programs that donate and deliver our products
to the people who need them. MSD. Be Well. For more information,
visit www.MSD.com.
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