A survey of the status of hospital visits by patients receiving denosumab treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic – Importance of multidisciplinary cooperation

Abstract

 We surveyed the status of hospital visits by patients to receive denosumab treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the 462 patients scheduled to continue treatment, 404 (87.4%) patients made hospital visits, while 58 (12.6%) failed to make hospital visits to receive the drug. The reasons for the failure to make hospital visits included those specific to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as self-quarantine for fear of becoming infected and stay-at-home requests by the facilities. We explained the disadvantages of treatment suspension due to cessation of hospital visits and provided support to the patients for continuing their osteoporosis treatment. This led us to realize the importance of the Osteoporosis Liaison Service (OLS), a multidisciplinary collaboration system, even during the COVID-19 pandemic.