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Are Patients on Long‐Term Corticosteroids Receiving Bone Loss Therapy?
Author(s) -
Rofail Serena,
Barras Michael A
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of pharmacy practice and research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.222
H-Index - 22
eISSN - 2055-2335
pISSN - 1445-937X
DOI - 10.1002/j.2055-2335.2006.tb00882.x
Subject(s) - medicine , osteoporosis , prednisolone , referral , tertiary referral hospital , medical record , corticosteroid , secondary prevention , pediatrics , surgery , physical therapy , retrospective cohort study , family medicine
Aim To evaluate the quality of medicine use in the primary prevention, secondary prevention and treatment, of osteoporosis in patients who require prolonged oral corticosteroids. Method A prospective evaluation of inpatients, who were receiving corticosteroids, during a 7‐week period at a tertiary referral hospital was undertaken. Patients receiving at least prednisolone 5 mg for greater than 3 months were examined via a detailed patient interview and investigation of medical records. The type of treatment, indication and presence of other risk factors for osteoporosis were documented. Results 51 patients were identified: 32 (63%) were being treated for the prevention or treatment of corticosteroid‐induced osteoporosis; 4 (8%) for primary prevention and 28 (55%) for secondary prevention and treatment. The remaining 19 (37%) were not on any treatment. Only 15 (29%) patients were receiving optimal therapy, as described by Australian standards. Conclusion A significant proportion of patients taking prolonged oral corticosteroids were not receiving adequate therapy for the prevention and treatment of corticosteroid‐induced osteoporosis.