Non-adherent women up to six times more likely to experience a fracture
WOONSOCKET, R.I., May 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Data released today by CVS
Caremark (NYSE: CVS) indicates that 87 percent of women 18 years and older
with osteoporosis, who were taking a drug therapy to treat the disease, did
not experience a fracture during the two-year study period. The CVS Caremark
data also found that those women with osteoporosis between the ages of 18-64
who were not on therapy were 5.7 times more likely to experience a fracture.
According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF), approximately
eight million women in the U.S. have osteoporosis and an additional 27.2
million women are estimated to have low bone mass, which places them at
increased risk for developing the disease. In addition, the NOF reports that
one in two women with osteoporosis over the age of 50 will experience an
osteoporosis related fracture in their remaining lifetime. The NOF also
reports that in 2005, osteoporosis-related fractures were responsible for an
estimated $19 billion in costs, which is predicted to increase to $25.3
billion by 2025.
"Osteoporosis impacts millions of women in the United States and the
resulting fractures due to bone loss associated with the disease can have a
significant impact on the individual's quality of life and increase overall
health care costs for the patient and the payor," said Troyen Brennan, M.D.,
Chief Medical Officer, CVS Caremark. "Our research suggests that the
medications available today to treat osteoporosis are effective in combating
the disease and those women who take and remain adherent to therapy are better
able to maintain their mobility and quality of life while avoiding costly
fractures."
The study analyzed women diagnosed with osteoporosis over a two-year
period. Untreated women less than 65 years of age were 5.7 times more likely
to experience a fracture than those treated with a bisphosphonate, estrogen,
or other hormone-related osteoporosis therapy. This study evaluated
aggregated and de-identified data for almost 400,000 women from the CVS
Caremark Health Management Claims Database who had incurred claims between
01/01/07 and 12/31/08. All study participants were continuously eligible for
medical and pharmacy benefits throughout the evaluation period. This analysis
is an observational study only, and the results demonstrate a relationship
between osteoporosis, osteoporotic pharmacotherapy, and fractures; however, as
in most observational studies, the causal nature of this relationship cannot
be strictly determined.
"The National Osteoporosis Foundation emphasizes the importance of patient
adherence and persistence to a prescribed treatment regimen in order to get
the maximum benefit from a medication," said Robert Recker, M.D., president of
the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF). "NOF is proud to sponsor National
Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month in May as an opportunity to raise
awareness of this disease, help women understand their risk for developing
osteoporosis and provide information about the treatments available today to
help manage osteoporosis and reduce the risk of fracture."
About CVS Caremark
CVS Caremark is the largest provider of prescriptions in the nation. The
Company fills or manages more than 1 billion prescriptions annually. Through
its unmatched breadth of service offerings, CVS Caremark is transforming the
delivery of health care services in the U.S. The Company is uniquely
positioned to effectively manage costs and improve health care outcomes
through its more than 6,900 CVS/pharmacy and Longs Drugs stores; its Caremark
Pharmacy Services division (pharmacy benefit management, mail order and
specialty pharmacy); its retail-based health clinic subsidiary, MinuteClinic;
and its online pharmacy, CVS.com. General information about CVS Caremark is
available through the Investor Relations section of the Company's Web site, at
www.cvscaremark.com/investors, as well as through the press room section of
the Company's Web site, at www.cvscaremark.com/newsroom.
Media Contact:
Steve Campanini Christine Cramer
CVS Caremark CVS Caremark
Corporate Communications Corporate Communications
(401) 770-5005 (401) 770-3317
