Treatment preference for monthly oral ibandronate and weekly oral alendronate in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis: A randomized, crossover study (BALTO II).
OBJECTIVE
Patient preference strongly influences long-term medication use in chronic diseases such as postmenopausal osteoporosis.


METHODS
This 6-month, open-label, crossover, international study randomized 350 women with postmenopausal osteoporosis to monthly oral ibandronate 150mg for 3months followed by weekly alendronate 70mg for 12weeks, or vice versa.


RESULTS
Of patients expressing a preference (93.1%), more preferred the monthly ibandronate regimen (70.6%) than the weekly alendronate regimen (29.4%). The monthly ibandronate preference rate was statistically significant (P<0.0001). The most common reasons for ibandronate preference were ease of staying on treatment long-term (81.5%) and better lifestyle fit (75.4%). More women found the monthly ibandronate regimen more convenient (76.6%) than the weekly alendronate regimen (23.4%). The monthly ibandronate convenience rate was statistically significant (P<0.0001). The safety profiles of the two regimens were similar.


CONCLUSIONS
The strong patient preference for monthly ibandronate over weekly alendronate replicates previous study findings and may lead to improved treatment adherence in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Hadji
Peyman
P
Philipps-University of Marburg, Department of Endocrinology, Reproductive Medicine and Osteoporosis, Baldingerstrasse, 35033 Marburg, Germany. hadji@med.uni-marburg.de
Minne
Helmut
H
Pfeifer
Michael
M
Bourgeois
Pierre
P
Fardellone
Patrice
P
Licata
Angelo
A
Devas
Vipul
V
Masanauskaite
Daiva
D
Barrett-Connor
Elizabeth
E
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019386:Alendronate / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077557:Ibandronic Acid; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004164:Diphosphonates; D000077557:Ibandronic Acid; D019386:Alendronate