Introduction: We aimed to describe the pharmacological management of osteoporosis in the general population, with emphasis on the inclusion of calcium supplementation.
Methods: We interviewed 1511 participants in an evaluation of a cohort of Portuguese adults. Antiresorptive therapy and calcium supplementation in the previous year were recorded. Socio-demographic characterisation included education, occupation, marital status and source of medical care. The participants' osteoporosis history and menopause age were noted. Dietary calcium intake was quantified using a food frequency questionnaire and a calcaneus quantitative ultrasound was conducted.
Results: Antiresorptive drugs had been used by 11.4% of women and 1.2% of men in the previous year. Bisphosphonates were the most referred subgroup (88% of all therapies), followed by raloxifen, and calcitonin. Overall, 43% of women reported using calcium in combination with bone-sparing drugs. Combination therapy was more frequent among older women (> or =70 years old: 63%), those with the highest educational level (>12 schooling years: 49%), blue-collar occupations (55%) and private healthcare (43%). Women with longer postmenopausal periods (>10 years: 42%) and those with the highest spontaneous calcium intakes (highest tertile: 44%) reported combination therapy more frequently.
Conclusion: Although treatment with bone-sparing drugs is frequent, the management of osteoporosis does not systematically include the recommended calcium supplementation.