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. 2021 Apr;32(4):611-617.
doi: 10.1007/s00198-020-05793-3. Epub 2021 Feb 8.

How has COVID-19 affected the treatment of osteoporosis? An IOF-NOF-ESCEO global survey

N R Fuggle  1   2 , A Singer  3 , C Gill  4 , A Patel  4 , A Medeiros  4 , A S Mlotek  5 , D D Pierroz  5 , P Halbout  5 , N C Harvey  1 , J-Y Reginster  6   7 , C Cooper  8   9 , S L Greenspan  10
Affiliations

How has COVID-19 affected the treatment of osteoporosis? An IOF-NOF-ESCEO global survey

N R Fuggle et al. Osteoporos Int. 2021 Apr.

Erratum in

Abstract

The effects of COVID-19 have the potential to impact on the management of chronic diseases including osteoporosis. A global survey has demonstrated that these impacts include an increase in telemedicine consultations, delays in DXA scanning, interruptions in the supply of medications and reductions in parenteral medication delivery.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has had profound effects on the health of the global population both directly, via the sequelae of the infection, and indirectly, including the relative neglect of chronic disease management. Together the International Osteoporosis Foundation and National Osteoporosis Foundation sought to ascertain the impact on osteoporosis management.

Methods: Questionnaires were electronically circulated to a sample of members of both learned bodies and included information regarding the location and specialty of respondents, current extent of face to face consultations, alterations in osteoporosis risk assessment, telemedicine experience, alterations to medication ascertainment and delivery and electronic health record (EHR) utilisation. Responses were collected, quantitative data analysed, and qualitative data assessed for recurring themes.

Results: Responses were received from 209 healthcare workers from 53 countries, including 28% from Europe, 24% from North America, 19% from the Asia Pacific region, 17% from the Middle East and 12% from Latin America. Most respondents were physicians (85%) with physician assistants, physical therapists and nurses/nurse practitioners represented in the sample. The main three specialties represented included rheumatology (40%), endocrinology (22%) and orthopaedics (15%). In terms of the type of patient contact, 33% of respondents conducted telephone consultations and 21% video consultations. Bone mineral density assessment by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) usage was affected with only 29% able to obtain a scan as recommended. The majority of clinicians (60%) had systems in place to identify patients receiving parenteral medication, and 43% of clinicians reported difficulty in arranging appropriate osteoporosis medications during the COVID-19 crisis.

Conclusions: To conclude through surveying a global sample of osteoporosis healthcare professionals, we have observed an increase in telemedicine consultations, delays in DXA scanning, interrupted supply of medications and reductions in parenteral medication delivery.

Keywords: COVID-19; Coronavirus; Fracture; Osteoporosis.

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Conflict of interest statement

CC reports lecture fees and honoraria from Amgen, Danone, Eli Lilly, GSK, Kyowa Kirin, Medtronic, Merck, Nestlé, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Servier, Shire, Takeda and UCB outside the submitted work.

NCH reports personal fees, consultancy, lecture fees and honoraria from Alliance for Better Bone Health, Amgen, MSD, Eli Lilly, Servier, Shire, UCB, Consilient Healthcare, Kyowa Kirin and Internis Pharma, outside the submitted work.

NRF reports travel bursaries from Pfizer and Eli Lilly, outside the submitted work.

JYR reports consulting fees or advisory boards for IBSA-Genevrier, Mylan, Radius Health, Pierre Fabre, lecturing fees for IBSA-Genevrier, Mylan, Cniel and Dairy Research Council (DRC) and grant support from IBSA-Genevrier, Mylan, Cniel and Radius Health.

AS has received research and grant funding from Radius Health and UCB (paid to MedStar), fees for consulting and advisory boards from Agnovos, Amgen, Radius Health, and UCB, honoraria for speaking and teaching from Amgen and Radius Health.

AM, AP, ASM, DDP, PH, SG have no conflicts to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Clinical settings represented by respondents to surveys (% of total responses)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Ability to request reimbursement for telemedicine appointments (% of total responses)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Number of telemedicine consultations per week (% of total respondents)
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Action for patients due to receive an HCP-administered osteoporosis treatment, who have conditions that would increase the risks associated with COVID-19 exposure (% of total responses)
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Prescribed osteoporosis medications (% of total responses)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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