RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The prevention and treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in clinical practice
JF Clinical Medicine
JO Clin Med
FD Royal College of Physicians
SP 431
OP 436
DO 10.7861/clinmedicine.4-5-431
VO 4
IS 5
A1 Karen Walker-Bone
A1 Angela Wood
A1 Richard Hull
A1 Joanna M Ledingham
A1 Fiona C McCrae
A1 Ragai Shaban
A1 Alastair Thomas
A1 Kirsten Mackay
YR 2004
UL http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/4/5/431.abstract
AB Glucocorticoids are associated with increased risk of bone loss and fracture. This study compared the prescribing of bone protective agents by rheumatologists in clinical practice with the standards recommended in the 1998 UK Consensus guidelines. All glucocorticoid users who attended rheumatology outpatients during a four-week period were eligible. Notes were audited according to a predefined proforma. Among the 1,290 rheumatology outpatients seen in the study period, 189 (15%) were taking glucocorticoids. 63% of glucocorticoid patients were taking calcium and 46% vitamin D. In total, 124 (71%) of the 175 patients available for review were at high risk of osteoporotic fracture, of whom 76 (61%) were taking appropriate prophylaxis. In 26 (15%) patients, insufficient information was available to be able to quantify the risk of fracture. The study showed that the audit standard was not met in 39% of cases. A better strategy for the monitoring of clinical risk factors is therefore required.