History of cardiovascular events and cardiovascular risk factors among patients initiating strontium ranelate for treatment of osteoporosis.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To estimate the proportion of osteoporosis patients in whom initiating strontium ranelate treatment, under new EMA guidelines, should be contraindicated because of a history of cardiovascular events or risk for cardiovascular events.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

This was a retrospective analysis of medical and pharmacy claims using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink database. Patients were included if they had ≥1 prescription of strontium from September 1, 2008 to August 31, 2013, were aged ≥50 as of the index date (the date of the first ever strontium ranelate prescription), and had ≥1 year of medical records pre-index. Cardiovascular events occurring any time pre-index were identified, which included ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, uncontrolled hypertension, and peripheral arterial disease. Cardiovascular risk factors assessed included 1) diabetes or hypertension any time pre-index; 2) hyperlipidemia in the 12 months pre-index; or 3) obesity in the 12 months pre-index.

RESULTS:

A total of 7,474 patients were included: 90.4% were women, with an average age of 76.5 years, and 84.5% used osteoporosis therapy, either bisphosphonates or non-bisphosphonates, prior to strontium initiation. A total of 23.6% of patients experienced ≥1 cardiovascular event prior to strontium initiation; the rate was lower among female patients than in male patients (22.4% vs 35.3%, P<0.01). A total of 45.9% had risk factors for cardiovascular events (without cardiovascular event history).

CONCLUSION:

More than one-fifth of osteoporosis patients in the UK who used strontium had a cardiovascular event history, and one-half had cardiovascular risk factors prior to strontium initiation.

• Authors: Jingbo Yu, Jackson Tang, Zhiyi Li, Shiva Sajjan, Christopher O'Regan, Ankita Modi, Vasilisa Sazonov
• Journal: International journal of women's health (Int J Womens Health) Vol. 7 Pg. 913-8 ( 2015) ISSN: 1179-1411 [Print] New Zealand
• PMID: 26604831 (Publication Type: Journal Article)