ArticleOsteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA2015
Changing patterns of prescription in vitamin D supplementation in adults: analysis of a regional dataset.
Article in Osteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 20 citations in OpenAlex.
- Calcium, vitamin D, or combined supplementation to prevent fractures and falls: systematic review and meta-analysis.BMJ (Clinical research ed.) · 2026Pooled it
- Guideline
- Correction of vitamin D status by calcidiol: pharmacokinetic profile, safety, and biochemical effects on bone and mineral metabolism of daily and weekly dosage regimens.Osteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA · 2017Trial
- Comparative Analyses of the Safety Profiles of Vitamin D Receptor Agonists: A Pharmacovigilance Study Based on the EudraVigilance Database.Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- Vitamin D and/or calcium to prevent fractures and falls: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMJ open · 2024Article
- Cardiovascular safety of calcium, magnesium and strontium: what does the evidence say?Aging clinical and experimental research · 2021Review
- Article
- The Use of Network Theory for Analyzing Switching Behaviors: Assessing Cognitive and Educational-Based Intervention for Promoting Health.Frontiers in psychology · 2018Article
- Trends in vitamin D supplement use in a general female and breast cancer population in Ireland: A repeated cross-sectional study.PloS one · 2018Article
- The role of calcium supplementation in healthy musculoskeletal ageing : An expert consensus meeting of the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (ESCEO) and the International Foundation for Osteoporosis (IOF).Osteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA · 2017Review
- Determinants of vitamin D supplementation prescription in nursing homes: a survey among general practitioners.Osteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA · 2016Article
- Patterns of antidepressant use in Italy: therapy duration, adherence and switching.Clinical drug investigation · 2015Article
- The use of cholecalciferol in patients with hip fracture.Clinical cases in mineral and bone metabolism : the official journal of the Italian Society of Osteoporosis, Mineral Metabolism, and Skeletal DiseasesArticle
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
unlabelledScientific interest in vitamin D has greatly risen during the last 10 years. The analysis of the changes in vitamin D prescriptions and related costs in a regional prescription dataset has revealed a profound increase in the period 2006-2013. Further studies on cost-effectiveness of such increase in vitamin D supplementation are needed.
introductionThe aim of this study was to analyze the changes in population-based prescription patterns of vitamin D supplements in the general population in an Italian regional setting during an 8-year period (2006-2013).
methodsData have been retrieved from the database of reimbursed prescriptions of the Region of Tuscany containing all of the medical reimbursements for the whole regional population (total of 3,619,872 and 3,692,828 inhabitants in 2006 and 2013, respectively). Data referring to adult population (age 20-90+ years) have been considered for this analysis (3,033,530 in 2006 and 3,066,741 in 2013). Two different flows (pharmaceutical distribution dataset and general data flow) were taken into account, using the ATC5 coding system for vitamin D supplements alone or in combination with calcium or alendronate. The number of boxes dispensed was retrieved, the number of patients receiving a specific treatment was calculated, and a cost analysis was performed.
resultsAn upsurge in the prescriptions of vitamin D compounds was disclosed, mainly sustained by a 75.3-fold increase in cholecalciferol, in all age groups and both sexes. This occurred in parallel to a 4.3-fold rise in prescriptions of oral alendronate in combination with cholecalciferol, a slight decrease in dispensed alendronate alone, and a modest increase in the prescription of the combination of calcium salts and cholecalciferol, and calcium alone. The total cost for reimbursement by the Regional Health System for vitamin D-related compounds rose from €3,242,100 euros in 2006 to €8,155,778 in 2013.
conclusionThe huge increase in vitamin D prescriptions and related costs in the last decade, as revealed by the analysis of a regional pharmaceutical dataset, reflects the increased awareness of the possible consequences of a poor vitamin D status. Further studies on cost-effectiveness of such increase in vitamin D supplementation are needed.
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