Clinicians say up to 70 per cent of patients do not receive appropriate treatment and osteoporotic fractures are one of the main reasons for acute admission to public hospitals. We are calling for a national osteoporosis strategy.
Osteoporosis is a disease that causes large holes in bones, making them more likely to fracture. According to the Irish Osteoporosis Society, around 300,000 people in Ireland have osteoporosis, but only around 19% are diagnosed.
A team of clinicians and academics from the University of Galway conducted an analysis of the results of a study of more than 5,000 men and women who attended Galway University Hospital’s osteoporosis service.
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They said the study, published to coincide with World Osteoporosis Day on Sunday, revealed the extent of overtreatment of people at low risk of osteoporosis and undertreatment of those most in need of medication.
As a result, while the majority of men (70%) and women (54%) at very high risk of fracture receive no treatment, even more men (80%) and women (54%) at high risk of fracture receive treatment. It was shown that many were not receiving treatment. Women at risk (70%) do not receive appropriate treatment.
Although there is no osteoporosis program in Ireland, bone disease is one of the most prevalent and disabling diseases in Ireland, accounting for almost 10% of the health budget.
The research team believes that national osteoporosis programs should address these abnormalities, reduce waste in healthcare services, prevent harm from over-diagnosis and over-prescription, and ensure appropriate prescribing for those most likely to benefit. He said it would help improve.
Professor John Carey, one of the lead researchers at the University of Galway, said over-prescribing to low-risk people was contributing to the “erroneous impression that the treatment gap for osteoporosis patients in Ireland is actually very small” – an ecological problem. He said that this led to a “mistake”. ”.
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“The difference remains unacceptably large when considering treatment indications,” he said.
“A national osteoporosis program will help address these abnormalities, reduce waste and harm for patients, and improve treatment for those who could benefit most. This will reduce the quality of care and cost.” Performance will be significantly improved.”
The study found that calcium and vitamin D are widely prescribed to people concerned about bone health.
This is despite “very strong evidence” that while additional supplements are beneficial for the vast majority of people, they “cost a lot of money and can cause harm”, including increasing the risk of bone fractures. It is.
Prescribing calcium and vitamin D costs more than prescribing osteoporosis drugs, and costs about the same as osteoporosis drugs for which there is “very strong evidence” to support their use.
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Studies have shown that while many low-risk men and women who do not need to be prescribed osteoporosis drugs are prescribed osteoporosis drugs, the majority of people who should be prescribed osteoporosis drugs are not. It turned out.
The research team estimated that the true disparity in patients not receiving appropriate treatment was in the range of 60 to 70 percent.
Clinicians, computer scientists and engineers at the University of Galway are using the latest scanning technology to assess a person’s risk of fractures before they occur, assess prognosis and monitor treatment.
“We regularly see patients in our clinics who undergo tests that are not needed, but then poor quality reports and interpretations lead to overtreatment and, in some cases, cost to the patient and all associated costs. caused significant damage,” Professor Carey said.
He added that the national program would “significantly reduce waste, deliver higher quality care and more cost-effective services” and was something the government should “strive for”.
