Value of a new fixed-combination pack of bisphosphonate, calcium and vitamin D in the therapy of osteoporosis: results of two quantitative patient research studies.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporotic patients with insufficient calcium intake and/or vitamin D insufficiency need adequate calcium and vitamin D supplementation with their bisphosphonate treatment. However, consistent intake and, therefore, the effectiveness of calcium/vitamin D supplementation may be impaired by several factors in the individual patient: low prescription rate or lack of advice to purchase calcium/vitamin D; reduced compliance because of the complexity of the regimen; or incorrect intake. There is a need to provide patients with a better way of taking bisphosphonate treatment with their calcium/vitamin D supplementation. To this end, a fixed-combination pack to help patients take the combination of bisphosphonate, calcium and vitamin D correctly and regularly has been developed. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate patients' understanding of administration instructions, preferences and their perceptions of compliance, convenience and completeness of a fixed-combination pack of bisphosphonate, calcium and vitamin D compared with those associated with separate packs. METHODS: The new monthly fixed-combination pack of bisphosphonate, calcium and vitamin D contains four weekly boxes. Each box contains a blister pack with one swallowable risedronate 35 mg film-coated tablet and six sachets of calcium/vitamin D effervescent granules (calcium 1000 mg and vitamin D(3) [colecalciferol] 880 IU) for dissolution in water as an oral solution, together constituting 1 week of therapy, accompanied by a patient information leaflet. Two quantitative patient research survey studies were conducted using standard questionnaires in face-to-face interviews with 400 postmenopausal women in several French cities. Participants were given the combined pack and two separate packs (risedronate 35 mg once weekly and calcium/vitamin D effervescent granules in sachets). In the first study, participants' understanding of administration instructions and preferences were evaluated. In the second study, participants' perception of compliance, convenience and completeness of the new combination pack of risedronate 35 mg plus calcium/vitamin D compared with two separate packs were evaluated. RESULTS: Participants asked about the combined pack answered a significantly higher proportion of questions about intake instructions correctly (80.3%) than participants asked about the two separate packs (70.7%) [p = 0.0004]. The combined pack was preferred by 72% of participants (p < 0.0001) for several reasons. Compared with separate packs, the combined pack was considered easier to use by 63% and easier to remember to use by 67% of participants. Participants believed that use of the combined pack would be more likely to help them take their bisphosphonate regularly (66%) and correctly (67%), and to take their calcium/vitamin D supplementation more regularly and correctly (68%), than use of separate packs. Seventy percent of participants believed that use of the combination pack would help them to not forget to take calcium/vitamin D supplementation. CONCLUSION: Use of the fixed-combination pack of risedronate 35 mg plus calcium/vitamin D once weekly could increase the likelihood that postmenopausal osteoporotic patients will receive a complete bisphosphonate, calcium and vitamin D therapy course and is likely to enhance correct intake of combination therapy. Use of this fixed-combination product will provide patients with a tool for improving adherence to recommended osteoporosis therapy and optimize the effectiveness of such treatment.

Importance of calcium co-medication in bisphosphonate therapy of osteoporosis: an approach to improving correct intake and drug adherence.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: In all of the large, pivotal, multicentre trials of bisphosphonate therapy, patients have received added calcium in amounts ranging from 500 to 1000 mg/day above individual dietary intake. Accordingly, calcium supplements or calcium/vitamin D combinations are currently recommended as co-medication with anti-resorptive therapy in all recently published guidelines on the treatment of osteoporosis. However, the consistent use or effectiveness of calcium may be impaired by several factors in the individual patient, including low prescription rate or lack of advice to purchase calcium, reduced adherence because of the complexity of the regimen, and incorrect intake (e.g. taking calcium with bisphosphonates at the same time). Patients with osteoporosis who adhere to drug therapy experience a significantly lower fracture rate. Therefore, there is a need to improve correct intake of bisphosphonates together with calcium supplementation, which may enhance adherence. The dosage regimen could be simplified by providing the two compounds in an integrated pack. Such a pack, containing one tablet of risedronic acid and six calcium carbonate tablets (Actonel), Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals, Weiterstadt, Germany), has been developed to facilitate correct intake. In this study, the impact of this fixed-combination pack on patient understanding of dosing instructions and on preference was tested by comparing the fixed combination with separate risedronic acid and calcium packages. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A new blister strip was developed containing one tablet of risedronic acid 35mg and six tablets of calcium carbonate 1250mg (500mg elemental calcium), representing 1 week of therapy; the control was the same medications in separate packaging. The study was conducted in a cohort of 164 postmenopausal women (mean age 69 years). Half of the participants were bisphosphonate users (n = 83). The combined understanding of five instructions - risedronic acid intake in the morning, only with water, without food, without other medication, and separate from calcium - was tested in a crossover design. Participants were also asked to state their preference for the combination packaging versus separate packs. RESULTS: Understanding of the five instructions for the separate packaging was 70%. The combination pack significantly improved understanding of these instructions to 80% (p < 0.05). Eighty-three percent of participants preferred the combination pack over separate packs (p < 0.05). The most frequently given reasons for preferring the combination pack were prefer one pack over two packs, easy/convenient to use/practical/handy, easy to understand/less confusion, and easier to remember/less likely to forget. CONCLUSIONS: The availability of a fixed-combination pack of risedronic acid 35 mg/week and calcium tablets can increase the likelihood that postmenopausal osteoporotic patients will receive both a bisphosphonate and calcium, which in turn is likely to enhance the correct intake of combination therapy.