Implementing adherence to osteoporosis treatments

At present chronic diseases are of crucial importance for all health services in the Western World for both their epidemic prevalence and the fact that they absorb a growing proportion of health service financial resources. Osteoporosis has clinical and public health importance because osteoporotic fractures are one of the most common causes of disability and an important contributor to medical costs in many regions of the world Increased longevity has resulted in the emergence of age-related fragility fractures as a major public health problem. Today several classes of effective drugs are available for osteoporosis. However, these drugs to be effective, need to be taken long-term. In the case of BPs data have shown that nearly 70% of patients on a daily, and almost 60% on a weekly treatment, stop taking medication before the end of 1 year. A poor adherence is associated to an increased probability of fractures with consequent higher likelihood of hospitalisation and higher costs. Since reasons for nonadherence may depend on individual beliefs and circumstances the strategy to improve adherence should be tailored according to the individual patient. These findings underline the key role played by the physicians, above all GPs, in a strategy to improve adherence which now could be supported by the avaibility of new drugs and innovative administration routes.