Systematic review: comparative effectiveness of treatments to prevent fractures in men and women with low bone density or osteoporosis.
BACKGROUND
Although several agents are available to treat osteoporosis, the relative efficacy and toxicity of these agents when used to prevent fractures has not been well described.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the benefits in fracture reduction and the harms from adverse events of various therapies for osteoporosis.


METHODS
MEDLINE (1966 to November 2007) and other selected databases were searched for English-language studies.


METHODS
For the efficacy analysis, investigators selected studies that reported the rate of or risk for fractures. For the adverse event analysis, they selected studies that reported the relationship between an agent and cardiovascular, thromboembolic, or upper gastrointestinal events; malignant conditions; and osteonecrosis.


METHODS
Using a standardized protocol, investigators abstracted data on fractures and adverse events, agents and comparators, study design, and variables of methodological quality.


RESULTS
Good evidence suggests that alendronate, etidronate, ibandronate, risedronate, zoledronic acid, estrogen, parathyroid hormone (1-34), and raloxifene prevent vertebral fractures more than placebo; the evidence for calcitonin was fair. Good evidence suggests that alendronate, risedronate, and estrogen prevent hip fractures more than placebo; the evidence for zoledronic acid was fair. The effects of vitamin D varied with dose, analogue, and study population for both vertebral and hip fractures. Raloxifene, estrogen, and estrogen-progestin increased the risk for thromboembolic events, and etidronate increased the risk for esophageal ulcerations and gastrointestinal perforations, ulcerations, and bleeding.


CONCLUSIONS
Few studies have directly compared different agents or classes of agents used to treat osteoporosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Although good evidence suggests that many agents are effective in preventing osteoporotic fractures, the data are insufficient to determine the relative efficacy or safety of these agents.
MacLean
Catherine
C
Southern California Evidence-based Practice Center, RAND, Santa Monica, CA 90401, USA.
Newberry
Sydne
S
Maglione
Margaret
M
McMahon
Maureen
M
Ranganath
Veena
V
Suttorp
Marika
M
Mojica
Walter
W
Timmer
Martha
M
Alexander
Alicia
A
McNamara
Melissa
M
Desai
Sheetal B
SB
Zhou
Annie
A
Chen
Susan
S
Carter
Jason
J
Tringale
Carlo
C
Valentine
Di
D
Johnsen
Breanne
B
Grossman
Jennifer
J
D000728:Androgens / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015519:Bone Density; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002118:Calcium / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D004967:Estrogens / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000150:complications*; D012307:Risk Factors; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000728:Androgens; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004967:Estrogens; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D014807:Vitamin D; D013739:Testosterone; D002118:Calcium