Women at risk from osteoporosis are not getting access to the drugs recommended by NICE, a new study has revealed.
The study, conducted by Cambridge University, found that only 28% of women attending a specialist clinic who had suffered a previous bone break were taking the recommended bone-protective drugs.
NICE advises that women over the age of 75 who have had a fracture should automatically be offered preventative treatment with drugs such as bisphosphonates.
However, of the women aged over 75 involved in the study, just 45% were taking a bisphosphonate or other treatment such as calcium or vitamin D supplements.
Postmenopausal women under 75 who have suffered a break are also supposed to be offered treatment if a bone density scan reveals it is needed.
“Someone needs to take responsibility for deciding whether a patient should be treated and there are a lot of processes that can fall down,” said study leader Professor Julia Compston. “Patients also need to be better informed that they might need treatment.”
Professor Compston added that the lack of treatment could be due to fractures not being recorded in patient notes, absence of incentives for GPs in treating osteoporosis and poor communication between primary and secondary care.