Pharmacological treatments for osteoporosis in very elderly people

Only a few randomized controlled trials investigating antiosteoporotic agents with fracture endpoints have included participants over the age of 80 years. The pivotal trial with alendronic acid had an upper age range of 80 years, although a separate trial that showed a significant reduction in nonvertebral fractures included some participants up to age of 84 years. Risedronate and zoledronic acid are the only bisphosphonates to show a significant reduction in new vertebral, hip and nonvertebral fractures during a 3-year period in those over 80 years of age. In addition, zoledronic acid was associated with a reduction in the rate of new clinical fractures and improved survival in elderly subjects after hip fracture. More recently, denosumab was found to significantly reduce the risk of new radiographic vertebral, hip and nonvertebral fractures in women up to the age of 89 years with osteoporosis. Strontium ranelate and teriparatide have shown fracture reductions in populations that have included subjects over the age of 80 years. There has been evidence to show that a combination of calcium and vitamin D reduces nonvertebral fracture in older populations. The role of vitamin D alone is less clear, although there is the suggestion that it may be effective at higher doses. The burden of osteoporosis is unquestionably rising within our ageing population. More emphasis is therefore required on researching the benefits of these pharmacological agents in very elderly people.