Utilization patterns and factors associated with persistence of new users of anti-osteoporosis treatment in Denmark: a population-based cohort study

Abstract

Summary Persistence with initial treatment was highest after 1 year, decreasing afterwards. Persistence was highest for denosumab followed by alendronate. We identified several factors associated with treatment persistence, some of which were the same irrespective of OTx agent, which could help target subgroups of patients in terms of social and healthcare support. Purpose To describe patient characteristics, persistence, and factors associated with the persistence of new users of the bisphosphonates (alendronate, risedronate, and ibandronate) and the RANKL inhibitor denosumab in Denmark. Methods A population-based cohort study using health registries (2010–2018). We included alendronate (n = 128,590), risedronate (n = 892), ibandronate (n = 5,855), and denosumab (n = 16,469) users, aged ≥ 50 years. Results The 1-year persistence was 68.2% in the alendronate cohort; 39.3% in the risedronate cohort; 56.3% in the ibandronate cohort; and 84.0% in the denosumab cohort. The 2-year persistence was 58.7% in the alendronate cohort; 28.0% in the risedronate cohort; 42.9% in the ibandronate cohort; and 71.9% in the denosumab cohort. The 4-year persistence was 46.3%, 15.4%, 29.6%, and 56.9%, respectively. Later years of treatment initiation were associated with lower persistence for alendronate (adjusted odds ratio (OR) with 95% CI was 0.86 (0.81–0.91) in 2016 compared to 2010), but not for risedronate (OR was 1.56 (0.60–4.06), ibandronate (OR was 0.92 (0.71–1.19) or denosumab (OR was 1.11 (0.87–1.43). Older age was associated with higher persistence for all medications and the same goes for the female sex except for ibandronate. Dementia was associated with higher persistence for alendronate but not denosumab, whereas prior osteoporosis treatment (OT) was the opposite. Several comorbidities were associated with lower persistence for alendronate, but not denosumab. Conclusion Persistence was highest for denosumab followed by alendronate. We identified several factors associated with treatment persistence, some of which were the same irrespective of OTx agent, which could help target subgroups of patients in terms of social and healthcare support.

Effect of gender on the evolution of pain and quality of life after treatment of symptomatic vertebral fragility fractures

“…Nevertheless, whether this finding was due to a lower compliance or persistence of the antiosteoporotic treatment in males was not analysed in the present study. This is a recurrent finding that has been reported in several epidemiological studies, describing not only a less frequent prescription of antiosteoporotic treatment in males after a fragility fracture but also a lower compliance and persistence with antiosteoporotic treatment [ 24 – 27 ].…”