How to Treat Osteoporosis

Abstract

The major aim of therapy is prevention of fractures. It should be pointed out right away that there are considerable differences in both quality and credibility in results of randomised trials dealing with efficacy of various treatment schedules. When results of these clinical trials are assessed and compared, problems arise with respect to the following criteria:

• Duration of the study

• Number and age of the patients

• Definition of exclusion criteria

• Primary aim of the study

• Fracture incidence versus fracture rate

• Fractures prior to start of study

• Definition of “fracture”

• Definition of “control group”

• Status of vitamin D and calcium

• Method and accuracy of bone density measurements

• Differences in statistics used for analysis