The subanalysis examined response rates within specific patient groups, said Denise Orwig, Ph.D., who presented the trial data during a poster session at the meeting. The analysis showed that patients at the highest risk for a recurrent fracture—those who were at least 85 years old or who had a T score of less than −2.5 at the total hip—benefited the most from the treatment.
Although Dr. Orwig said it's unclear why the oldest, least-dense bones benefited the most, the finding does carry a strongly positive clinical implication.
“These patients who are at the highest risk are also the ones who are the least likely to be treated,” said Dr. Orwig of the department of epidemiology and preventive medicine at the University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore.
“The thought may be that they have already had multiple fractures and there is probably not a lot more that can be done. But this study showed us that these individuals can benefit and that we can have a big short-term impact on their bone density and possibly even reduce the risk of more fractures due to continued bone loss,” said Dr. Orwig.
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. sponsored the HORIZON studies. Dr. Orwig has received research funding from the company. Dr. Recknor and Dr. Zaidi are on the Novartis speakers bureau.
Diana Mahoney contributed to this report.
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