Actual Situation and Characteristics of Pharmacotherapy for Glucocorticoid-induced Osteoporosis Prevention

Abstract

Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIO) is a serious side effect of long-term glucocorticoid (GC) administration. However, sufficient high compliance rate data for the guidelines on the management and treatment of GIO in Japan is unavailable. Additionally, GC is prescribed at many medical departments involved in outpatient care. Community pharmacists might intervene to support more appropriate pharmacotherapy to avoid GIO. This study examines the actual state and characteristics of pharmacotherapy for GIO prevention. We investigated 136 patients from the Gifu Pharmaceutical University pharmacy that received GC treatment continuously for over three months. We obtained the age, GC dosage, and combined medications data retrospectively from the electronic drug system and assessed the fracture risk factor using a scoring system. One hundred and two patients were recommended for prophylactic pharmacotherapy based on the guidelines on the management and treatment of GIO. Nineteen patients (18.6％) did not receive this therapy. Thus, community pharmacists should consider proposing prescriptions using the guidelines and help support GIO prevention.