Cited by 700Bone health and osteoporosis researchBone health and treatmentsMenopause: Health Impacts and Treatments

The effect of 3 versus 6 years of Zoledronic acid treatment of osteoporosis: A randomized extension to the HORIZON-Pivotal Fracture Trial (PFT)

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Black, Dennis M, Reid, Ian R, Boonen, Steven, Bucci-Rechtweg, Christina, Cauley, Jane A, Cosman, Felicia, Cummings, Steven R, Hue, Trisha F +9 more·2012·Journal of Bone and Mineral Research

Abstract

Zoledronic acid 5 mg (ZOL) annually for 3 years reduces fracture risk in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. To investigate long-term effects of ZOL on bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture risk, the Health Outcomes and Reduced Incidence with Zoledronic acid Once Yearly–Pivotal Fracture Trial (HORIZON-PFT) was extended to 6 years. In this international, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled extension trial, 1233 postmenopausal women who received ZOL for 3 years in the core study were randomized to 3 additional years of ZOL (Z6, n = 616) or placebo (Z3P3, n = 617). The primary endpoint was femoral neck (FN) BMD percentage change from year 3 to 6 in the intent-to-treat (ITT) population. Secondary endpoints included other BMD sites, fractures, biochemical bone turnover markers, and safety. In years 3 to 6, FN-BMD remained constant in Z6 and dropped slightly in Z3P3 (between-treatment difference = 1.04%; 95% confidence interval 0.4 to 1.7; p = 0.0009) but remained above pretreatment levels. Other BMD sites showed similar differences. Biochemical markers remained constant in Z6 but rose slightly in Z3P3, remaining well below pretreatment levels in both. New morphometric vertebral fractures were lower in the Z6 (n = 14) versus Z3P3 (n = 30) group (odds ratio = 0.51; p = 0.035), whereas other fractures were not different. Significantly more Z6 patients had a transient increase in serum creatinine >0.5 mg/dL (0.65% versus 2.94% in Z3P3). Nonsignificant increases in Z6 of atrial fibrillation serious adverse events (2.0% versus 1.1% in Z3P3; p = 0.26) and stroke (3.1% versus 1.5% in Z3P3; p = 0.06) were seen. Postdose symptoms were similar in both groups. Reports of hypertension were significantly lower in Z6 versus Z3P3 (7.8% versus 15.1%, p < 0.001). Small differences in bone density and markers in those who continued versus those who stopped treatment suggest residual effects, and therefore, after 3 years of annual ZOL, many patients may discontinue therapy up to 3 years. However, vertebral fracture reductions suggest that those at high fracture risk, particularly vertebral fracture, may benefit by continued treatment. (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00145327). © 2012 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research

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  • Rare safety concerns such as osteonecrosis of the jaw and atypical femur fractures become more common beyond 5 years.

    “Evidence of efficacy beyond 5 years is limited, whereas rare safety concerns such as ONJ and atypical femur fractures become more common beyond 5 years [67, 92].”

    From Clinician’s Guide to Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis (2014) · cites this paper as [92]

    The Introduction identifies ONJ and atypical femur fractures as concerns with long-term bisphosphonate use, but says the relationship between duration of use and atypical-fracture risk remains uncertain. The Results report one ONJ case in the six-year treatment group and no atypical femur fractures; they do not establish that either event becomes more common beyond five years. Page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  • Evidence of efficacy beyond 5 years is limited.

    “Evidence of efficacy beyond 5 years is limited, whereas rare safety concerns such as ONJ and atypical femur fractures become more common beyond 5 years [67, 92].”

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  1. [7]7. Black D, Schwartz A, Ensrud K, Ryback-Feiglin A, Gupta J, Lombardi A, Wallace R, Levis S, Quandt S, Satterfield S, Cauley J, Cummings S. A 5-year randomized trial of the long-term efficacy and safety of alendronate: the FIT Long-term EXtension (FLEX). J Bone Miner Res. 2004;19: S45(Abstract).

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Authors
Black, D. M., Reid, I. R., Boonen, S., Bucci-Rechtweg, C., Cauley, J. A., Cosman, F., Cummings, S. R., Hue, T. F., Lippuner, K., Lakatos, P., Leung, P. C., Man, Z., Martinez, R. L. M., Tan, M., Ruzycky, M. E., Su, G., & Eastell, R.
Affiliations
  • University of California, San Francisco (US)
  • University of Auckland (NZ)
  • KU Leuven (BE)
  • Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, East Hanover, NJ, USA
  • University of Pittsburgh (US)
  • Helen Hayes Hospital (US)
  • California Pacific Medical Center (US)
  • University Hospital of Bern (CH)
  • Semmelweis University (HU)
  • Chinese University of Hong Kong (HK)
  • Centro Médico TIEMPO, Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • University of Sheffield (GB)
Corresponding author
Black, Dennis M
Venue
Journal of Bone and Mineral Research
Published
2011-12-08
Volume
27
Issue
2
Pages
243-254
ISSN
  • 0884-0431 (ISSN-L)
  • 1523-4681
OpenAlex
W2106406207
Cited by
700
References
40
Citations by year
2026: 18 · 2025: 37 · 2024: 29 · 2023: 45 · 2022: 40 · 2021: 58 · 2020: 53 · 2019: 49 · 2018: 48 · 2017: 54 · 2016: 61 · 2015: 62 · 2014: 50 · 2013: 49 · 2012: 35
FWCI
49.40
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Bone and Mineral Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (UL1TR000005)
  • University of California, San Francisco
  • Novartis Pharma
  • National Center for Research Resources (UL1RR024153)
  • National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Bone health and osteoporosis research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Bone health and treatments
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Menopause: Health Impacts and Treatments
Keywords
zoledronic acid, osteoporosis, postmenopausal women, long-term treatment, bone mineral density, femoral neck, vertebral fractures, fracture risk, bone turnover markers, serum creatinine, atrial fibrillation, stroke, hypertension, bisphosphonates, adverse events
MeSH terms
Zoledronic Acid, Aged, Diphosphonates, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Imidazoles, Osteoporosis, Peptide Fragments, Procollagen, Time Factors, Biomarkers, Bone Density, Incidence, Bone Remodeling, Treatment Outcome, Bone Density Conservation Agents, Osteoporotic Fractures

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