Prevention of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis: experience in a managed care setting

Treatment with glucocorticoids is the leading cause of drug-induced osteoporosis. Currently available guidelines indicate that patients receiving long-term glucocorticoid therapy should receive measures to prevent osteoporosis.

To examine whether patients receiving long-term glucocorticoid therapy in a managed care setting received preventive therapy or prescribed medications for osteoporosis and to identify patient and provider characteristics associated with treatment.

A cohort of 224 health plan enrollees 20 years and older who were dispensed at least 1 oral glucocorticoid prescription per quarter during the period October 1997 through September 1998 was identified from administrative data. Medical charts and administrative data were reviewed to determine use of preventive therapy and prescribed medications for osteoporosis.

Of the 224 patients, 62% had at least 1 documented intervention aimed at osteoporosis prevention (counseling about calcium or vitamin D or weight-bearing exercise; prescription for estrogen, calcitonin, or bisphosphonate; or a bone mineral density study). Women were more likely than men to receive intervention (76% vs 44%; prevalence odds ratio, 4.41; 95% confidence interval, 2.17-9.10). Patients receiving a mean daily prednisone dose of 10 mg or more or 5 to less than 10 mg were no more likely to receive intervention than those receiving 5 mg or less prednisone daily. Sixty-two (90%) of 69 patients who were prescribed glucocorticoid therapy by rheumatologists had at least 1 intervention documented compared with 29 (48%) of 60 for internists, 26 (55%) of 47 for pulmonologists, and 22 (46%) of 48 for all other physicians. In a multiple logistic regression model, including patient age, sex, mean daily glucocorticoid dose, and physician specialty, women and patients prescribed glucocorticoids by a rheumatologist were significantly more likely to receive intervention aimed at osteoporosis prevention.

A substantial proportion of patients receiving long-term glucocorticoid therapy do not receive preventive therapy for osteoporosis. Efforts should be made to reduce barriers to such treatment and increase the proportion of patients given preventive therapy.