To evaluate the effect of treatment with alendronate sodium, a potent aminobisphosphonate, on the incidence of nonvertebral fractures in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.
Data Sources: Published data and data on file at Merck Research Laboratories.
Study Selection: All completed prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled alendronate trials of at least 2 years' duration (5 studies).
Data Extraction: All subjects were women with osteoporosis between the ages of 42 and 85 years, postmenopausal at least 4 years, with lumbar spine bone mineral density (measured using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry) at least 2.0 SD below the mean for young adult women. All women randomized to treatment with placebo or alendronate at a dose higher than 1 mg per day for at least 2 years were included.
Data Synthesis:
In postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, treatment with alendronate reduces the risk of nonvertebral fractures over at least 3 years.
Copyright remains with the authors and publisher.
To evaluate the effect of treatment with alendronate sodium, a potent aminobisphosphonate, on the incidence of nonvertebral fractures in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.
Data Sources: Published data and data on file at Merck Research Laboratories.
Study Selection: All completed prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled alendronate trials of at least 2 years' duration (5 studies).
Data Extraction: All subjects were women with osteoporosis between the ages of 42 and 85 years, postmenopausal at least 4 years, with lumbar spine bone mineral density (measured using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry) at least 2.0 SD below the mean for young adult women. All women randomized to treatment with placebo or alendronate at a dose higher than 1 mg per day for at least 2 years were included.
Data Synthesis:
In postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, treatment with alendronate reduces the risk of nonvertebral fractures over at least 3 years.
Copyright remains with the authors and publisher.