Cost and effectiveness analyses of the anti-osteoporosis medication in patients with hip fracture in Taiwan: A population-based national claims database analysis

Background: Real-world cost and effectiveness analyses of the anti-osteoporosis medications (AOM) using a nationwide database in Asia were limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cost and effectiveness of AOMs therapy under the reimbursement of National Health Insurance in Taiwan. Methods: Using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, patients who had hospitalization due to incident hip fractures with related operation between 2008 and 2017 were identified as our study population. Patients who initiated AOMs within 1 year post incident hip fracture were matched with those did not according to the propensity score. The direct medical cost and subsequent fracture within three years were estimated. Statistically significant differences of risk for subsequent fracture between the AOM and non-AOM groups were estimated using the COX proportional hazards model. All costs were presented as New Taiwan Dollars (NTD). Results: There were 27,357 new hip fracture patients who initiated AOMs, and 76% of them were women with a mean age of 77.7 years. Among patients ages ≥70 who encountered hip fractures, those who initiated AOMs experienced fewer non-vertebral fractures (HR = 1.07 (1.02–1.13), p = 0.0114 for those ages 70–79 years old; HR = 1.11 (1.06–1.17), p < 0.0001 for those ages ≥80 years) and mortality (HR = 1.18 (1.14–1.22), p < 0.0001 for those ages 70–79; HR = 1.20 (1.16–1.23), p < 0.0001) within 3 years post incident fracture; meanwhile, consuming fewer medical resources in the national insurance healthcare system. (Increment cost = −16011.2 NTD, p = 0.0248 for those ages 70–79; Increment cost = −17257.9 NTD, p = 0.0032 for those ages ≥80 years) Conclusion: Overall, under Taiwan's national health insurance, the use of AOMs is cost-saving, especially in the population aged ≥70 years. The finding of this research was valuable for policymakers in considering healthcare policy promotion and resource allocation in the future.