Fracture prediction after discontinuation of 4 to 5 years of alendronate therapy: the FLEX study.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

Discontinuation of bisphosphonate therapy after 3 to 5 years is increasingly considered, but methods to monitor fracture risk after discontinuation have not been established.

Objective

To test methods of predicting fracture risk among women who have discontinued alendronate therapy after 4 to 5 years.

Design, setting, and participants

The prospective Fracture Intervention Trial Long-term Extension (FLEX) study randomized postmenopausal women aged 61 to 86 years previously treated with 4 to 5 years of alendronate therapy to 5 more years of alendronate or placebo from 1998 through 2003; the present analysis includes only the placebo group. Hip and spine dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) were measured when placebo was begun (FLEX baseline) and after 1 to

SUBMITTER: Bauer DC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4409325 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature