GI Issues Cause Osteoporosis Therapy Non-Adherence

Women with osteoporosis who experience gastrointestinal (GI) events due to osteoporosis medication are less likely to adhere to their therapy regimen, according to a recent study.

In the Medication Use Patterns, Treatment Satisfaction, and Inadequate Control of Osteoporosis Study, the researchers evaluated 2943 women with osteoporosis. Of these, 22.8% were considered new users of osteoporosis therapy, and the remaining women were considered experienced users.
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The researchers collected and recorded information regarding GI events at baseline and at months 3, 6, and 12. Patients were administered the 12-item Adherence Evaluation of Osteoporosis treatment (ADEOS) questionnaire, which is considered predictive of therapy adherence. Information about self-reported GI events and medication persistence was collected. The association between GI events at various time points, and persistence and adherence to therapy at 12 months was assessed.

Results indicated that 68.1% of women reported GI events at baseline. By month 12, 80% of women who completed follow-up reported at least 1 GI issue. The researchers noted that 86.7% of women had only been treated with bisphosphonates at baseline. By month 12, 73.9% of women were still taking therapy.

In addition, patients who had GI issues at month 6 were much less likely to persist with treatment. Furthermore, the likelihood of an ADEOS score of at least 20 at month 12 was much lower among patients who had experienced a GI event between baseline and month 6.

“The occurrence of GI events was associated with a lower likelihood of patient adherence to and persistence with [osteoporosis] medication,” the researchers concluded.

—Christina Vogt

Reference:

Modi A, Sen S, Adachi JD, et al. The impact of GI events on persistence and adherence to osteoporosis treatment: 3-, 6-, and 12-month findings in the MUSIC-OS study [Published online November 6, 2017]. Osteoporosis Int. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-017-4271-1.