Comparison of the Continuation Rates of Romosozumab and Teriparatide Administrations in a Rural Area

Romosozumab has a dual effect on bones; it promotes bone formation and inhibits bone resorption and has a strong bone density-increasing effect. There have been various reports on the continuation rates of teriparatide, another drug used for osteoporosis treatment; however, there are few reports on the continuation rate of romosozumab. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the continuation rate of romosozumab and the factors affecting it, and to compare the continuation rates of romosozumab and teriparatide in a rural area. We retrospectively reviewed 199 patients with osteoporosis who were administered romosozumab monthly and teriparatide acetate preparation weekly or twice-weekly in an outpatient clinic. Patient information included age, sex, distance by road to the hospital, reason for the start of treatment, history of osteoporosis treatment and fracture, serum levels of some parameters, bone mineral density, adverse events, and a continuation period within one year. We compared differences in patient backgrounds and continuation rates among the romosozumab (ROM), twice-weekly teriparatide (TW), and weekly teriparatide (W) groups. Furthermore, we examined the factors influencing discontinuation in all patients. The continuation rate of the ROM group (88.9%) was significantly higher than that of the W group (70.2%) (P = 0.0358). In the Kaplan-Meier curves for treatment continuation, the ROM group showed a significantly higher continuation rate than the W group (P = 0.0202). Univariate analyses of all patients showed that romosozumab administration reduced the risk of discontinuation (P = 0.0450). Romosozumab has a considerably higher continuation rate than weekly teriparatide.