Background@#
Osteopenia patients have a
risk of fracture and may develop
osteoporosis.We investigated
physicians’ management of
osteopenia patients in
South Korea. @*
Methods@#A
survey was conducted using a
questionnaire including 6 items (1) do you think anti-
osteoporosis medications are necessary in
osteopenia patients?; (2) what is your preference to manage
osteopenia patients, except for anti-
osteoporosis medications?; (3) what is your indication for the anti-
osteoporosis medication in
osteopenia patients?; (4) what kind of anti-
osteoporosis medication do you prefer to treat
osteopenia patients?; (5) do you use
bisphosphonates?; and (6) if not, what is the reason for not using?. @*Results@#Among the 173 participants, 150 (86.7%) replied that anti-
osteoporosis medications were necessary in
osteopenia patients. Indications for the medication were (1) past medical
history of
pathologic fracture in 85 (49.1%); (2) T-score <-2.5 on dual energy
X-ray absorptiometry in 73 (42.2%); (3) previous
history of
osteoporosis in 44 (25.4%);(4)
risk of fracture according to fracture
risk assessment tool in 34 (19.7%); and (5) progressive
bone loss in 31 (17.9%). One hundred and sixteen (67.1%) favored
bisphosphonates, 93 (53.8%) selective
estrogen-receptor modulator, and 24 (13.9%)
hormone replacement therapy. Thirty-one (17.9%) replied that they do not use
bisphosphonates due to (1) restricted reimbursement by the
health insurance in 24 (77.4%); and (2)
bisphosphonate-related
complications in 19 (61.3%). @*Conclusions@#Most
respondents (86.7%)
thought anti-
osteoporosis medications were necessary in
osteopenia patients, but 17.9% of the
respondents did not use
bisphosphonates. Restricted reimbursement by the
national health insurance was the major obstacle against the use of
bisphosphonates.