[Osteoporosis treatment with biphosphonates: Approaches to care reality].

OBJECTIVE: Osteoporosis predominantly affects menopausal women and has a significant morbidity expressed as fractures. The study aimed to describe the types of bisphosphonates used to treat osteoporosis in post-menopausal women and to establish how treatment non-compliance affects the fracture rate. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study of women on active treatment with bisphosphonates for the past five years. LOCATION: Utebo Health Centre (Zaragoza) (16,000 inhabitants) with a general medical quota of 1,890 patients). PARTICIPANTS: A total of 129 women who were on active treatment with bisphosphonates for five years were included. MAIN MEASURES: The distribution by drug was analysed, as well as the percentage of women who did not comply with the treatment correctly and any identified fractures. RESULTS: A total of 129 women on treatment were identified (13.0% of all women patients): alendronic acid (45.7%), ibandronic acid (21.7%), risedronic acid (19.4%) and alendronic acid plus cholecalciferol (13,2%). 19.4% of women stopped their treatment after at least 3 months. Thirteen hip fractures were identified. CONCLUSIONS: The overall treatment compliance was 80.6%, Depending on the type of bisphosphonate: alendronic acid plus cholecalciferol (88.2%), risedronic acid (88.0%), alendronic acid (78.0%), ibandronic acid (75.0%). The incidence of hip fractures was similar incidence to that observed with respect to non-compliance to treatment. Lack of therapeutic compliance is common in menopausal women, and measures should be promoted to increase effectiveness as well as to make patients aware of the importance of continuing treatment.