Observational studyBone2022
Dispensing anti-osteoporotic drugs changed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Observational study in Bone, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed, 9 citations in OpenAlex.
- Trends in the incidence of secondary hip fractures and osteoporosis treatment in Japan (FY2012-FY2023).Journal of bone and mineral metabolism · 2026Article
- Trends in the incidence of hip fractures and osteoporosis treatment in Japan (FY2012-FY2023).Archives of osteoporosis · 2025Article
- COVID-19 pandemic and initiation of treatment for atrial fibrillation: a nationwide analysis of claims data.BMC cardiovascular disorders · 2023Article
- How the COVID-19 pandemic affected bone health: a retrospective, longitudinal study on denosumab persistence from the epicentre of European spreading.Archives of osteoporosis · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesCaring for osteoporosis patients has proven challenging during the COVID-19 pandemic due to repeated lockdowns in Austria. The distinct possibility of insufficient treatment regimens is therefore a matter of pressing concern. The aim of the study was to assess alterations in dispensing anti-osteoporotic drugs during the COVID-19 pandemic. PATIENTS/
methodsThis study was a nationwide retrospective register-based observational study which included all patients in Austria aged ≥50 who received at least one prescription for anti-osteoporotic medication between January 2016 and November 2020. Pseudonymised individual-level patients' data were obtained from social insurance authorities. Anti-osteoporotic agents were divided into: (i) oral bisphosphonates, (ii) intravenous bisphosphonates, (iii) selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), (iv) teriparatide (TPTD) and (v) denosumab (DMAB). We used interrupted time series analysis with autoregressive integrated moving average models (ARIMA) to predict drug dispensing.
resultsThere were 2,884,374 dispensations of anti-osteoporotic drugs to 224,598 patients between 2016 and 2020. The mean monthly prescriptions for oral bisphosphonates (-14.5 %) and SERMs (-12.9 %) decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic when compared to the non-COVID-19 period. Dispensing for intravenous bisphosphonates (1.7 %) and teriparatide (9.5 %) increased. Prescriptions for DMAB decreased during the first lock-down, however increased by 29.1 % for the total observation time. The Arima models showed that in March 2020 (beginning of the 1st COVID-19 lockdown), there was a decrease of 778 dispensings, with a further increase of 14 dispensings every month for denosumab; a decrease by 178 dispensings, with a further increase of 23 dispensings every month for zolendronic acid; a decrease by 2950 dispensings, but with a further increase of 236 dispensings every other month for ibandronate and a decrease by 1443 dispensing with a further decrease of 29 dispensings for alendronate than predicted, had the lockdown not occurred.
conclusionsThe total number of prescriptions dispensed to patients treated with anti-osteoporotic medications declined rapidly during first COVID-19 lockdown. The observed decrease of DMAB during the first lockdown rebounded in the following months. Considering the massive treatment gap for osteoporosis, and the related fracture risk, clinicians should continue treatment, even during a pandemic.
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Registered trials
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