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Trends in osteoporosis care patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta, Canada.
Oliveira, T; Brown, J; Juby, A G; Schneider, P; Wani, R J; Packalen, M; Avcil, S; Li, S; Farris, M; Graves, E; McMullen, S; Kendler, D L.
  • Oliveira T; Amgen Canada Inc, Mississauga, ON, Canada.
  • Brown J; Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Laval University and CHU de Québec Research Centre, Quebec City, QC, Canada.
  • Juby AG; Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
  • Schneider P; Division of Orthopaedic Trauma, Department of Surgery, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
  • Wani RJ; Amgen Canada Inc, Mississauga, ON, Canada.
  • Packalen M; Amgen Canada Inc, Mississauga, ON, Canada.
  • Avcil S; Amgen Canada Inc, Mississauga, ON, Canada.
  • Li S; Medlior Health Outcomes Research Ltd, Calgary, AB, Canada.
  • Farris M; Medlior Health Outcomes Research Ltd, Calgary, AB, Canada.
  • Graves E; Medlior Health Outcomes Research Ltd, Calgary, AB, Canada.
  • McMullen S; Medlior Health Outcomes Research Ltd, Calgary, AB, Canada. Suzanne.mcmullen@medlior.com.
  • Kendler DL; Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Arch Osteoporos ; 17(1): 110, 2022 08 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1971806
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE/

INTRODUCTION:

The objective of this study was to describe osteoporosis-related care patterns during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Alberta, Canada, relative to the 3-year preceding.

METHODS:

A repeated cross-sectional study design encompassing 3-month periods of continuous administrative health data between March 15, 2017, and September 14, 2020, described osteoporosis-related healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and treatment patterns. Outcomes included patients with osteoporosis-related healthcare encounters, physician visits, diagnostic and laboratory test volumes, and treatment initiations and disruptions. The percent change between outcomes was calculated, averaged across the control periods (2017-2019), relative to the COVID-19 periods (2020).

RESULTS:

Relative to the average control March to June period, all HCRU declined during the corresponding COVID-19 period. There was a reduction of 14% in patients with osteoporosis healthcare encounters, 13% in general practitioner visits, 9% in specialist practitioner visits, 47% in bone mineral density tests, and 13% in vitamin D tests. Treatment initiations declined 43%, 26%, and 35% for oral bisphosphonates, intravenous bisphosphonates, and denosumab, respectively. Slight increases were observed in the proportion of patients with treatment disruptions. In the subsequent June to September period, HCRU either returned to or surpassed pre-pandemic levels, when including telehealth visits accounting for 33-45% of healthcare encounters during the COVID periods. Oral bisphosphonate treatment initiations remained lower than pre-pandemic levels.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study demonstrates the COVID-19 pandemic and corresponding public health lockdowns further heightened the "crisis" around the known gap in osteoporosis care and altered the provision of care (e.g., use of telehealth and initiation of treatment). Osteoporosis has a known substantial care and management disparity, which has been classified as a crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic created additional burden on osteoporosis patient care with healthcare encounters, physician visits, diagnostic and laboratory tests, and treatment initiations all declining during the initial pandemic period, relative to previous years.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Osteoporosis / COVID-19 Type of study: Diagnostic study / Observational study / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: North America Language: English Journal: Arch Osteoporos Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S11657-022-01132-7

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Osteoporosis / COVID-19 Type of study: Diagnostic study / Observational study / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: North America Language: English Journal: Arch Osteoporos Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S11657-022-01132-7