Analysis of the Health and Budgetary Impact of Chondroitin Sulfate Prescription in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis Compared to NSAIDs and COXIBs.

BACKGROUND: Chondroitin sulfate, alone or associated with glucosamine (CS), is an effective treatment of osteoarthritis, better tolerated than non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitors (COXIBs) at gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and renal levels. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the health impact (toxicity by NSAIDs/COXIBs avoided with CS with or without glucosamine) and economic impact (savings due to avoided toxicities) of treatment of knee osteoarthritis with CS compared to NSAIDs/COXIBs, as a consequence of the avoidance of mild-moderate or severe gastrointestinal adverse effects (GIAE), ischaemic heart disease (IHD), acute kidney insufficiency (AKI) and chronic kidney failure (CKF). METHODS: We compared the current situation (available reimbursed prescription with CS) with a hypothetical situation without CS (treatment only with NSAIDs/COXIBs). The frequency of GIAE, IHD, AKI and CKF with CS and NSAIDs/COXIBs was obtained from published ad hoc studies. The cost of AE management and of the drugs (180 days of treatment) was obtained from Spanish sources. A probabilistic economic model was made for a 3-year period, both at national (NHS) and regional levels. Sensitivity analyses were performed for different durations of treatment (90 and 240 days). RESULTS: In Spain, it is estimated that 519,130, 513,616 and 507,377 patients with knee osteoarthritis will be treated with NSAIDs/COXIBs and 112,775, 114,963 and 117,262 with CS in 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. Due to better CS tolerability, 55,098 mild-moderate GIAE, 3060 severe GIAE, 204 IHD, 1089 AKI and 733 CKF would be avoided in 3 years. Discounting the cost of the drugs, the three-year savings for the NHS would be 21.8 (12.7-29.5) million euros. CONCLUSION: Due to its better tolerability profile, CS treatment is expected to prevent thousands of AEs over the next 3 years, some of which may be life-threatening for patients, while generating considerable savings for the NHS.

Multiple vertebral fractures following discontinuation of denosumab treatment: Ten clinical cases report. / Fracturas vertebrales múltiples tras la suspensión de tratamiento con denosumab: serie de diez casos.

OBJECTIVES: Analyse clinical and bone metabolism features in a case series of patients with multiple vertebral fractures after discontinuation of denosumab (DMab). METHODS: An observational descriptive study analysing data from ten patients with multiple vertebral fractures after DMab discontinuation that were admitted to our rheumatology department between 2015 and 2018. RESULTS: There were a total of 49 spontaneous fractures after an average of 6 DMab doses and 10.9 months from discontinuation. Ninety percent had already received treatment other than DMab 7 of 10 oral bisphosphonates. After discontinuation, CTX and P1NP remained elevated and mean T-score for femoral neck and lumbar spine was lower than before treatment. The most affected vertebrae were L3, L5, D6, D7, D9 and D11. CONCLUSION: This report of ten new cases suffering multiple vertebral fractures early after discontinuation of DMab highlights the emerging concern on the subject in the scientific community and the need to clarify its pathogenic mechanism, and to support by solid evidence the new recommendations on its management.

[Rheumatology and osteoporosis (RETOSS): a vision of postmenopausal osteoporosis in rheumatology departments throughout Spain]. / Reumatología y osteoporosis (RETOSS): osteoporosis posmenopáusica en la consulta de reumatología.

OBJECTIVE: To know the characteristics of the postmenopausal women with osteoporosis consulting Rheumatology Hospital Divisions in Spain. METHODS: An epidemiologic, observational, transverse and multicentric study was performed from June to September 2008 in 63 rheumatology divisions in Spain. Six hundred and twenty nine osteoporotic postmenopausal women were studied using a questionnaire designed to get demographic, clinical, radiological, bone density, and functional information. Every physician had to choose only one patient per day, usually the first woman to come in and fulfill the inclusion and exclusion criteria. RESULTS: Mean age of included women was 66,6 [9,2) years, weight:64,6[10,1] kg and body mass index: 26,1[4,1] kg/m(2). They were 3,1[2,8] cm shorter than the maximal historical height. 35,7% of them had a family history of fracture and 40,7% had a past history of fracture, of which 54,8% were vertebral fractures. Patients who received calcidiol <20 ng/ml sustained more falls (p=0,033) and fractures (p=0,006) than women receiving calcidiol >20 ng/ml. Risk of falls and fractures increased with advancing age and 51,5% of women who fell, had a fracture. 75% of women had poor calcium intake (≤400 mg/day). The Get up & go test showed a linear trend to an increased probability of >20s in relationship with the age as well as with an increased incidence of fractures. 71,8% of patients had back pain and in 85,3% it went from moderate to severe. IN CONCLUSION: Most osteoporotic postmenopausal Spanish women have a low calcium intake, one out of three has a family history of fractures that increases fracture incidence and this shows a relationship with age and functional capacity; four out of ten have had any type of fractures, one out of three have fallen during the past year and half of these present back pain. Calcidiol levels have been evaluated in a small group of patients.

[Acute vertebral fracture and vertebral reinforcement techniques]. / Fractura vertebral aguda y técnicas de refuerzo vertebral.

The high incidence of fractures by fragility and, especially of the vertebral fractures in osteoporotic postmenopausal women, forces us to approach this subject once more. In this manuscript epidemiological data that indicates the magnitude of the problem will be updated. Treatment alternatives to decrease back pain produced by vertebral fracture are will be reviewed, and the prevention of the occurrence of new osteoporotic fractures of any type, through the administration of suitable antiresorptive and bone-forming pharmacological agents to increase bone mineral density will also be addressed. In some patients with painful vertebral compression fractures it is possible obtain an analgesic effect by percutaneous vertebroplasty or by kiphoplasty using polymethylmetacrilate cement or calcium- phosphate cement, injected into vertebral bodies.