The Effects of Trends in Osteoporosis Treatment on the Incidence of Fractures

Objective This study focused on the trends in antiosteoporosis drug preferences and compared the incidence of fractures between patients treated orally and those who were exposed to an awareness campaign and assigned to intravenous/subcutaneous treatment.Methods Our hospital registry included 1,716 osteoporotic women who were over 65 years of age without preexisting vertebral and nonvertebral fractures over 1 year before this study, with bone mineral density (BMD) < −2.5 standard deviation (SD) and fracture assessment tool (FRAX) score > 20%, who were given 1,337 oral and 379 intravenous/subcutaneous prescriptions to treat their osteoporosis. Self-administered surveys (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016) collected data on trends of preferences among nine drugs and fracture prevention using relative risk reduction (RRR).Results The number of patients taking oral prescriptions decreased gradually from 2012 to 2016, while the number of patients treated with intravenous and subcutaneous injections increased. The incidence of fracture was lower in patients receiving intravenous and subcutaneous injections than in patients taking oral medications.Conclusion These findings indicate a decrease in oral prescriptions for osteoporosis treatment and that treatment for osteoporosis using intravenous or subcutaneous injections of antiosteoporosis drugs is more effective for preventing fractures.