Does Osteoporosis Treatment Choice Change the Prevalence or Course of COVID-19 in Older Adults?

Objective: This study aimed to investigate whether the prevalence or course of Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) changes according to osteoporosis treatment choice and to discuss the necessity of changing osteoporosis treatment during the pandemic especially in older adults. Materials and Methods: We used the data of 828 subjects that we followed up with the diagnosis of osteoporosis in our outpatient clinic in the last two years. Patients were divided into four groups according to the osteoporosis treatment they received (alendronate, denosumab, teriparatide, intravenous zoledronic acid). Treatments for osteoporosis, treatment durations, and COVID-19 evaluations were obtained from electronic file records retrospectively. Symptomatology, diagnostic methods, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results, and radiological findings of computerized tomography scans, treatments of the patients who had COVID-19 were noted. Results: Fifty-two (6.2%) patients had been diagnosed with COVID-19. Between osteoporosis treatment groups, there were no significant differences in terms of COVID-19 prevalence, symptomatology, PCR results, radiological findings, treatments, and outcomes. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, there is no clear evidence that osteoporosis treatment affects the course of COVID-19. In our study, we could not find a relationship between the actual treatments used for osteoporosis, and the prevalence or course of COVID-19. So during the COVID-19 outbreak, it is more crucial to emphasize the importance of the treatment continuity than changing modality for osteoporosis. Considering the burden of osteoporosis in the older population, the continuation of osteoporosis treatment needs to be prioritized during the COVID-19 pandemic.