Published in:
01-12-2012 | Original Article
Patient profile in a bone health and osteoporosis prevention service in Ireland
Published in: Irish Journal of Medical Science (1971 -) | Issue 4/2012
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Objectives
To (1) characterise a cohort of patients attending a major osteoporosis clinic in Ireland and (2) examine the prescribing of preventative therapies amongst these patients.
Methods
Data were taken from 2006–2007 on patients attending the Osteoporosis Clinic at St. James’s Hospital, Dublin. Information gathered included age, gender, fracture history, past medical and surgical history, co-morbidities, the results of the first DXA scans, anti-resorptive therapies along with other medications prescribed.
Results
Of all patients 87.6% were female and the mean age was 68 years (SD = 14.31). In total 166 (74%) patients had osteoporosis, 40 (17.8%) had osteopenia and 18 patients (8%) had normal T-score values, 163 (72.7%) had a history of a fracture. Only 13.7% of the patients did not have a documented history of other co-morbidities.
Conclusion
Comprehensive services such as the Osteoporosis Clinic at St. James’s Hospital can provide the necessary screening, monitoring and prescribing of appropriate osteoporosis medications with additional follow-up if required to this at risk group reducing the unnecessarily traumatic effects of the disease on patients.