Date of Award
2006
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Program
Kinesiology
Supervisor
Dr. Robert Petrella
Abstract
Osteoporotic fractures have a profound impact on the functional state of individuals and often lead to permanent disability. The objective of this thesis was | to evaluate the relationship between persistence with osteoporosis medication and the following factors: type of medication, switching of drugs, age, drug coverage, initiating prescriber speciality, and comorbid diseases. Data were acquired from a large Canadian public and private daims database. A total of 62897 patients met the study criteria and were analyzed over a period of 12 months. The most significant factors negatively related to persistence were the age of the patient (<65 vs. >= 65; p < 0.0001), type of drug coverage (public vs. private; p < 0.0001), prescribing physician specialty (GP vs. rheumatologist, geriatrician, internist, others; p < 0.0001), number and type of comorbid diseases (cardiovascular disorders vs. neurological disorders or diabetes; p < 0.01). Healthcare practitioners should take note of these factors when counselling patients taking bisphosphonates for osteoporosis.
Recommended Citation
Jones, Timothy J., "Determinants of Persistence with Weekly Bisphosphonates in Patients with Osteoporosis" (2006). Digitized Theses. 5043.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/digitizedtheses/5043