Factors Affecting Continuation of Weekly Teriparatide Administration in Rural Areas

Introduction: Although teriparatide plays an important role in the treatment of patients with severe osteoporosis, it is meaningless if patients cannot continue. There have been few reports of studies evaluating factors affecting the continuation rate of weekly teriparatide; moreover, no study has investigated the relationship between the distance to travel to the hospital and continuation rate. Therefore, we examined the continuation rate of weekly teriparatide and factors that affect this rate.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study included 73 patients who were administered weekly teriparatide in a rural hospital. Patient information, including the age, sex, distance between the hospital and home, family structure, place of introduction, reason for the start of teriparatide administration, past osteoporosis treatment and fracture, side effects, and period of teriparatide continuation, was collected. We examined factors influencing weekly teriparatide continuation.

Results: The continuation rate of weekly teriparatide was 22.7%. The Kaplan-Meier curves for the two groups regarding the place of introduction and side effects showed significant differences (P = 0.0158 and P = 0.0309, respectively). In the multivariate analyses to investigate factors associated with teriparatide continuation, an older age, starting administration while hospitalized, and side effects were identified as risk factors negatively influencing continuation (P = 0.0280, P = 0.0222, and P = 0.0095, respectively). On the other hand, the number of family members and distance between our hospital and home did not affect teriparatide continuation.

Conclusion: An older age, starting administration while hospitalized, and side effects were identified as risk factors negatively influencing teriparatide continuation.