Cost and Consequences of Noncompliance to Oral Bisphosphonate Treatment

BACKGROUND: Despite the favorable efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness profile of bisphosphonate (BIS) treatment for osteoporosis (OP), patient compliance remains suboptimal. A longer follow-up period could help to better characterize patient behavior as well as the predictors of noncompliance because of the extended durations of osteoporosis and time to a fracture. OBJECTIVE: To determine health care outcomes associated with compliance and noncompliance to BIS therapy in women diagnosed with OP. METHODS: This retrospective claims study focused on women with OP, who were aged 55 years and older and using oral BIS treatment. Patients were identified within the HealthCore Integrated Research Environment (HIRE) between January 1, 2007, through June 30, 2010. Patients were required to have ≥12 months of pre-index eligibility and ≥24 months of post-index health plan eligibility. Post-index eligibility was split into 2 periods: (1) the compliance time period (the first 12-month post-index period, in which c...