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.

DESIGN

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

SETTING

25 long-term care facilities.

PATIENTS

327 elderly women with osteoporosis.

INTERVENTION

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).

MEASUREMENTS

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).

CONCLUSION

Alendronate increased BMD at both the spine and hip in elderly female residents of long-term care facilities.