Economic Burden of Osteoporotic Patients with Fracture: Effect of Treatment With or Without Calcium/Vitamin D Supplements
Abstract
Background: Fractures represent the most important complication of osteoporosis, in terms of loss of independency, chronic pain, increased risk of mortality, but also high healthcare costs. Objective: To assess healthcare costs in an Italian cohort of osteoporotic patients with a fracture with and without speci fi c osteoporosis treatment and supplementation with calcium/vitamin D. Methods: This retrospective observational study used data from administrative databases of fi ve Local Health Units in Italy. Patients ≥ 50 years of age and hospitalized for vertebral or hip fracture occurring from 01/01/2011 to 31/12/2015 were included. Patients were then classi fi ed as “ untreated ” and “ treated ” if they had been treated or not with drugs for fracture prevention after the index fracture. We also identi fi ed subjects that were only treated with drugs for fracture prevention, “ osteoporosis drug only ” group, compared to the “ osteoporosis drug plus calcium/vitamin D ” group, in which calcium and/or vitamin D were also in combination. Healthcare cost analysis included drug expenditure, hospitalization costs (excluding costs related to the hospitalization for the index fracture) and outpatient service costs. Results: Three thousand four hundred and seventy- fi ve patients were included in the present study, most of whom (58.5%) had received speci fi c osteoporosis treatment after index fracture. Among treated patients, the vast majority (83.6%) received supplementation with…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a cohort study, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 26 participants or records.
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