Alendronate improves QOL of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis

Original Research

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Authors: Hisaya Kawate, Keizo Ohnaka, Masahiro Adachi, et al

Published Date April 2010 Volume 2010:5 Pages 123 - 131

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/CIA.S9696

Hisaya Kawate¹, Keizo Ohnaka², Masahiro Adachi¹, Suminori Kono³, Hideyuki Ikematsu⁴, Hisashi Matsuo⁵, Kazumi Higuchi⁶, Takehiko Takayama⁷, Ryoichi Takayanagi¹

¹Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan; ²Department of Geriatric Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan; ³Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan; ⁴Internal Medicine, Haradoi Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan; ⁵Matsuo Naika Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan; ⁶Fukuoka Teishin Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan; ⁷Takayama Icho-ka and Naika Clinic, Fukuoka, Japan

Purpose: Postmenopausal osteoporosis causes bone fracture as well as pain, physical, psychological and socially adverse effects, which affects a patient’s quality of life (QOL). The effect of alendronate on QOL was investigated compared with that of alfacalcidol in postmenopausal osteoporotic women.

Patients and methods: A total of 44 postmenopausal osteoporotic women (mean age 69.8 years) with back or joint pain, although capable of walking, were randomly assigned to two groups; group A (n = 25) received 5 mg/day of alendronate, and group B (n = 19) received 0.5 μg/day of alfacalcidol, for the first 4 months. For the following 2 months, the group A received 0.5 μg/day of alfacalcidol and the group B received 5 mg/day of alendronate in a crossover design. The patient’s QOL was evaluated by score of Japanese Osteoporosis Quality of Life Questionnaire (JOQOL), and pain intensity using a visual analog scale (VAS). Bone metabolism was measured by bone mineral density (BMD) and a biomarker for bone resorption, urinary crosslinked N-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (NTX).

Results: With 4-month treatment, alendronate, but not alfacalcidol, improved pain-related QOL, reduced joint pain by VAS, and increased bone mineral density. Both treatments significantly reduced bone resorption, the inhibition was significantly higher with alendronate (−56.5%) compared with alfacalcidol (−18.1%). After crossover, the patients in group A received alfacalcidol and had a reduced total and daily living activity-related QOL scores, and increased upper back pain by VAS. The group B received alendronate had significantly reduced bone resorption after the 2 months.

Conclusion: Alendronate improves the QOL of Japanese postmenopausal women with osteoporosis by reducing pain intensity as well as increasing bone mineral density.

Keywords: osteoporosis, bisphosphonates, quality of life, pain, vitamin D

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