Update on osteoporosis management in long-term care: focus on bisphosphonates

Osteoporotic fractures are potentially devastating and associated with high morbidity and substantial economic burden. Residents of long-term care facilities are at greater risk of osteoporosis and its related fractures than those living in the community, yet osteoporosis is underdiagnosed and undertreated in these settings. Bisphosphonates are approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. As a class, bisphosphonates have been shown to increase bone mineral density, decrease the markers of bone resorption, and reduce the risk of osteoporotic fractures. The 3 approved bisphosphonates are alendronate, risedronate, and ibandronate. Alendronate and risedronate are dosed daily or weekly and ibandronate, the most recently approved bisphosphonate, has been approved for monthly oral dosing or as an intravenous formulation to be given intermittently (every 3 months). In addition, other products with different mechanisms of action are in the pharmaceutical pipeline and may offer additional management options.