Changes in the utilization of osteoporosis drugs after the 2010 FDA bisphosphonate drug safety communication

INTRODUCTION: In October 2010, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a safety communication regarding the risks of atypical fractures of the femur, with bisphosphonates drugs. This study evaluated the impact of the bisphosphonates FDA safety communication on the utilization of osteoporosis medications in Medicaid programs. METHODS: Osteoporosis drugs utilization data from the July 2006 to June 2014 were extracted from the national Summary Files from the Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data maintained by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). We performed an interrupted time series analyses to evaluate trends in utilization of osteoporosis drugs before and after the 2010 FDA safety commination. RESULTS: Time-series analyses of osteoporosis drug utilization in Medicaid program revealed a significant downward trend associated with the 2010 FDA bisphosphonates safety communication. Before the FDA safety communication was issued, the utilization rate was slightly decreased between 2006 and 2010. In the year following the FDA safety communication the bisphosphonate DDDs per 1000 beneficiaries of fell 22% yearly until the end of study period. CONCLUSIONS: The 2010 FDA bisphosphonates safety communication appeared to have influenced Osteoporosis utilization in Medicaid recipients. The 2010 FDA bisphosphonates safety communication was associated with a significant reduction in the utilization of bisphosphonates in the Medicaid program.