Alendronate improves bone mineral density in elderly women with osteoporosis residing in long-term care facilities. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
Many elderly female residents of long-term care facilities have osteoporosis and could benefit from intervention to increase bone density.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the efficacy and safety of alendronate for treatment of osteoporosis in elderly female residents of long-term care facilities.


METHODS
Multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 2-year study.


METHODS
25 long-term care facilities.


METHODS
327 elderly women with osteoporosis.


METHODS
Patients were randomly assigned to receive alendronate, 10 mg/d, or placebo. All patients also received vitamin D, 400 IU/d, and some patients received supplemental calcium (total intake, approximately 1500 mg/d).


METHODS
Bone mineral density (BMD) of the spine and hip and biochemical markers of bone turnover.


RESULTS
Alendronate produced significantly greater increases in BMD than did placebo (24-month differences: spine, 4.4% [95% CI, 3.3% to 5.5%]; femoral neck, 3.4% [CI, 2.3% to 4.4%]). Alendronate produced greater decreases from baseline in biochemical markers of bone turnover than did placebo (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Alendronate increased BMD at both the spine and hip in elderly female residents of long-term care facilities.
Greenspan
Susan L
SL
University of Pittsburgh Osteoporosis Prevention & Treatment Center, 1110 Kaufmann Building, 3471 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
Schneider
Diane L
DL
McClung
Michael R
MR
Miller
Paul D
PD
Schnitzer
Thomas J
TJ
Bonin
Randi
R
Smith
Mary Elizabeth
ME
DeLucca
Paul
P
Gormley
Glenn J
GJ
Melton
Mary E
ME
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019386:Alendronate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D002118:Calcium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D012112:Residential Facilities; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000627:therapeutic use
D014807:Vitamin D; D002118:Calcium; D019386:Alendronate