title: Quality of life in Japanese women with postmenopausal osteoporosis treated with raloxifene and vitamin D: post hoc analysis of a postmarketing study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effect of active vitamin D3 on quality of life (QOL) and pain in raloxifene-treated Japanese women with postmenopausal osteoporosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a post hoc analysis of a previous prospective postmarketing observational study conducted without a comparator group. This study was conducted in 60 Japanese hospitals from September 2007 to February 2009. We compared changes from baseline in QOL and pain in patients receiving raloxifene plus active vitamin D3 with those in patients receiving raloxifene monotherapy at 8 and 24 weeks after treatment.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Japan Pharmaceutical Information Center (JapicCTI-070465).
  
  
  METHODS
  QOL and pain were assessed using Short Form-8 (SF-8), European Quality of Life Instrument 5 Dimensions (EQ-5D), Japanese Osteoporosis Quality of Life Questionnaire (JOQOL), visual analogue pain scales (VAS pain), and pain frequency scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 506 patients were included in the post hoc analysis. Both raloxifene monotherapy (RLX, n = 354) and active vitamin D3 cotreatment (COMBI, n = 152) significantly improved QOL and reduced pain from the baseline at Week 8 and Week 24. The COMBI group had significantly greater improvements in JOQOL total score and activity of daily living (total) domain at Week 24 and last observation carried forward (LOCF) than the RLX group. The COMBI group also had significantly greater improvements in SF-8 domains of general health (at Week 8, Week 24, and LOCF), role physical (at Week 24 and LOCF), and mental health (at LOCF) than the RLX group. The COMBI group also had significantly greater reduction in VAS pain at LOCF than the RLX group (mean [SD]: RLX = -0.99 [2.72], COMBI = -1.54 [2.21], P = 0.042).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Active vitamin D3 supplementation to raloxifene treatment for 24 weeks may have additional benefits in improving QOL and relieving pain in Japanese women with postmenopausal osteoporosis.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Medical Research Center, International University of Health and Welfare, Women's Medical Center, Sanno Medical Center , Tokyo , Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohta
authors.forename: Etsuro
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hamaya
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taketsuna
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sowa
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011358:Product Surveillance, Postmarketing; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D002762:Cholecalciferol; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride
keywords: Japan; Osteoporosis, postmenopausal; Pain; Quality of life; Raloxifene; Vitamin D