[Utilization of calcium, vitamin D and diphosphonates used in the treatment of osteoporosis in Denmark 1994-1996. An epidemiological analysis of nationwide prescription data].

The aim of this study was to explore the utilization of calcium, vitamin D and bishosphonates used in treatment of osteoporosis. The data derive from the Register of Drug Statistics at the Danish Medicines Agency. The analysis encompassed 112,300 prescriptions presented by 25,692 patients during a period from 1 January 1994 to 30 June 1996. The consumption of calcium decreased, while the consumption of bisphosphonates increased 971% during the period. The one-year prevalence of use of calcium, vitamin D and bishosphonates was 3.5 per 1000 in 1995 with a female to male ratio of 6.8:1. Use was most common in the age group 75-79 years. Twenty-seven percent of the patients had used corticosteroids previously to being treated for osteoporosis; 1.4% of the patients had used cumulative corticosteroid doses greater than 10 g. These heavy users were treated with five times larger doses against osteoporosis than patients not treated with corticosteroids.