Abstract
Improving patient health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and prevention of bone fracture are important components of the treatment of osteoporosis. Our aim in this study was to evaluate the effect of denosumab treatment in improving HRQOL among patients with osteoporosis. Our analysis was based on 332 patients with osteoporosis, followed for 24 months. All patients received denosumab (60 mg) subcutaneously every 6 months. Bone mineral density (BMD) was assessed at the distal radius, with serum concentration of calcium, phosphate, P1NP, and TRACP5b also measured. HRQOL assessment included pain (visual analogue scale [VAS]) and the EQ-5D questionnaire. A multivariate analysis was performed to identify the possible confounders associated with deterioration in the EQ-5D utility score in response to denosumab treatment. Denosumab treatment yielded a 3.4% increase in BMD at 24 months. Serum levels of TRACP5b and P1NP decreased significantly, from baseline, at 6 months, with no effect on calcium and phosphate levels. Pain VAS and EQ-5D utility score improved significantly, from baseline, at 6 months, with the EQ-5D utility score correlating with the BMD at all time points of measurement over the 24-month period of observation. Knee osteoarthritis and multiple comorbidities were significantly associated with a worse HRQOL in response to denosumab treatment. Denosumab treatment increased BMD, with improvements in BMD correlating with improved HRQOL, supporting a possible benefit of using denosumab for the treatment of osteoporosis. © 2019 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.