Bone Density Screening in Postmenopausal Women With Early-Stage Breast Cancer Treated With Aromatase Inhibitors

Purpose:In postmenopausal women with breast cancer treated with aromatase inhibitors (AIs), most expert panels advise baseline bone mineral density testing with a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan repeated every 1 to 2 years. How often this recommendation is followed is unclear.Methods:We performed a retrospective analysis of women with stage I to III breast cancer who started AI therapy from January 1, 2008, to December 31, 2010, with follow-up through December 31, 2012, by using the SEER-Medicare database. Selection criteria included AI use for ≥ 6 months and no recent osteoporosis diagnosis or bisphosphonate use. We used multivariable logistic regression to investigate associations between patient characteristics and receipt of a baseline DXA scan. In patients who continued AI treatment, we assessed rates of follow-up scans.Results:In the sample of 2,409 patients (median age, 74 years), 51.0% received a baseline DXA scan. Demographic characteristics associated with the absence of a baseline D...