A retrospective study of clinical profile and drug prescribing pattern in osteoporosis in a tertiary care hospital

Objective: To study the clinical profile and prescription pattern of drugs in the treatment of osteoporosis in a tertiary care centre in Karnataka, India. Methods: This was a retrospective study carried out in a multi-speciality tertiary care hospital in Karnataka. Information was collected from case record forms of 100 patients of osteoporosis during a 12 mo tenure regarding various signs and symptoms they presented with and treatment provided. Results: Majority of the subjects were females (90%). Low back ache was the most common presenting symptom. There was an increase in mean calcium (8.84±8.32 mg/dl) and phosphorus levels (2.45±1.83 mg/dl) as compared to baseline at the follow up visit. Vitamin D and calcium supplementation were the most commonly prescribed medications followed by analgesics, calcitonin and bisphosphonates. A total of 77 adverse reactions were reported, gastritis being the commonest one. Conclusion: Vitamin D and Calcium supplements were more commonly prescribed than specific anti osteoporotic medications.