Patients are at risk because they do not take their medication - Alarming results from a Harris/Decima national survey

/NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR
    DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES/VANCOUVER, BC, Dec. 3 /CNW Telbec/ - The Medical Women's International
Association (MWIA) and top Canadian osteoporosis experts unveiled the results
of a new national survey which shows that more than 40% of women aged 50 and
older do not take their osteoporosis medication as prescribed.
    "Based on the survey results, physicians and patients should really
discuss all the different treatment options available to treat osteoporosis"
states Dr. Shelley Ross, Secretary General of the Medical Women's
International Association. "With medical advances, women with osteoporosis now
have options which will allow them to be compliant, such as once-yearly
treatment options."
    According to the survey, forgetfulness (45%) and unpleasant side-effects
are the most common reasons why patients do not take their oral osteoporosis
medication. Other reasons included the preference for natural remedies and
inconvenience for lifestyle. These reasons also differ across Canada:- More Quebecers do not take their medication because of side-effects
      compared to all other regions (31%).
    - More Albertans do not take their medication because they keep
      forgetting compared to all other regions (49%).
    - The second most common reason why women in Ontario do not always take
      their prescription is because they prefer taking natural remedies
      (11%).
    - The second most common reason why women in British Columbia do not
      always take their prescription is because they find treatment
      inconvenient for their lifestyle (20%)."Women know they have osteoporosis, they know that treatment is crucial
to slow down bone loss, yet many of them don't take their treatment as
prescribed. This fact is very distressing because patients need to be
compliant to treatment in order to protect their bones," explains Dr. Angela
Cheung, Associate Professor of Medicine at University of Toronto. "What is
also alarming is that only 56% of those who have fractured a bone are more
careful about taking their osteoporosis medication as prescribed since their
fracture."
    The treatment of osteoporosis has witnessed substantial breakthroughs
over the last 15 years, with the introduction of daily bisphosphonates in mid
1990's, followed by weekly dosages. The latest advancement is the recent
introduction of a once-yearly bisphosphonate, and, according to the survey,
82% of patients have a positive view of a once-yearly treatment in terms of
compliance.
    "I've been living with osteoporosis for 7 years and tried different
treatments, but either I could not tolerate them or I kept forgetting to take
them," explains Elizabeth Cullen, an osteoporosis patient. "I fractured some
bones because of this disease, and I was even scared to go on about my
day-to-day life without getting injured. Then my doctor suggested I try a new
once-yearly treatment. I think women need to know that there are options out
there and that they don't have to surrender to osteoporosis, and they should
talk to their doctors."
    The survey also showed that more than three quarters (77%) of patients
are concerned with breaking bones. This number is higher among those who have
fractured a bone previously (84%). Being able to lead an active life (69%),
being able to do normal day-to-day activities (65%) and avoiding dependence on
others (52%) are also key concerns of Canadian women with osteoporosis.

    The national online survey was conducted by Harris/Decima in
collaboration with the MWIA and top Canadian Osteoporosis experts between
October 23 and November 5, 2008 and was sponsored by Novartis Pharmaceuticals
Canada Inc. The survey interviewed a total of 503 women aged 50 and older who
are diagnosed with and prescribed treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis.
The data is weighted by age and region to match the proportion of the Canadian
population of women age 50 and older, and results can be considered accurate
to within +/-4.4 per cent.

    About Medical Women's International Association

    The Medical Women's International Association (MWIA) is an international
non-governmental organization (NGO) representing women doctors from all five
continents. The association was founded in 1919 and is therefore one of the
oldest professional bodies at the international level. It is non-political,
non-sectarian and non-profit making. Its aims and goals are to promote the
cooperation of Medical Women in different countries, to actively work against
gender related inequalities in the medical profession and to offer medical
women the opportunity to meet so as to confer upon questions concerning the
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