VERtebral Fracture Treatment Comparisons in Osteoporotic Women

The incidence of new vertebral fractures was assessed by quantitative vertebral morphometry measurements (QM) with qualitative visual semiquantitative grading (SQ) confirmation.

A new vertebral fracture was diagnosed in a vertebra that was non-fractured at the baseline radiological examination. It was defined as a loss of vertebral body height of at least 20% and 4 mm from the baseline radiograph by vertebral QM, based upon placement of six points by a trained, central reader. Any fractures identified by QM were confirmed using SQ: if the vertebral body also had an increase of one or more severity grade, it was considered an incident vertebral fracture.

Worsening of a pre-existing fracture was considered if the decrease in vertebral height was at least one severity grade in the semi-quantitative assessment, confirmed by a trained central reader, where vertebrae were graded as normal (SQ0) or as with mild (SQ1), moderate (SQ2), or severe (SQ3) fractures, defined as ~20 to 25% (mild), ~25 to 40% (moderate) or ~40% or more (severe) decrease in anterior, central, or posterior vertebral height (T4 to L4).

A clinical vertebral fracture was defined as a new or worsening vertebral fracture, confirmed by radiography, that was associated with signs and symptoms highly suggestive of a vertebral fracture.

All non-vertebral fractures that occurred and were diagnosed between visits required the confirmation by the site investigators after evaluating the original x-ray film(s), the radiology or surgical report. For clinical vertebral fractures, the final confirmation of the diagnosis required the centralized evaluation by a trained, independent reader.

A non-vertebral fracture is a fracture at any of the following non-vertebral sites: clavicle, scapula, ribs, sternum, sacrum, coccyx, humerus, radius, ulna, carpus, pelvis, hip, femur, patella, tibia, fibula, ankle, calcaneus, tarsus, and metatarsal. Non-vertebral fractures were determined by direct questioning at each visit, and confirmed by the site investigators by x-ray, radiology or surgical report. Fractures resulting from a severe trauma such as a traffic collision, a beating, or having been struck by a falling or moving object were not considered fragility fractures but traumatic fractures.

A major non-vertebral fracture is a fracture at any of the following non-vertebral sites hip, radius, humerus, ribs, pelvis, tibia and femur. Non-vertebral fractures were determined by direct questioning at each visit, and confirmed by the site investigators by x-ray, radiology or surgical report. Fractures resulting from a severe trauma such as a traffic collision, a beating, or having been struck by a falling or moving.

Vertebrae were graded as moderate (SQ2), or severe (SQ3) fractures, based on ~25 to 40% (moderate) or ~40% or more (severe) decrease in anterior, central, or posterior vertebral height (T4 through L4).

Traumatic fractures were considered if resulting from a severe trauma such as a traffic collision, a beating, or having been struck by a falling or moving object.

Participants rated the worst back pain during the 24 hours preceding the visit at baseline and each post-baseline visit. An 11-point numerical back pain rating scale (rated from 0 = no back pain to 10 = worst possible back pain) was used.

The EQ-5D-5L is a generic, multidimensional, health-related, quality-of-life instrument completed on five dimensions to measure health-related quality of life. The profile allowed participants to rate their health state in five health domains: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression using a five level scale (no problems, slight problems, moderate problems, severe problems, and unable to/extreme problems). The responses are used to derive the health state index scores using the United Kingdom (UK) algorithm, with scores ranging from -0.59 to 1.0. A higher score indicates better health state.

The EQ-5D-5L is a generic, multidimensional, health-related, quality-of-life instrument completed on five dimensions to measure health-related quality of life. The profile allowed participants to rate their health state in five health domains: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression using a five level scale (no problems, slight problems, moderate problems, severe problems, and unable to/extreme problems). The responses are used to derive the health state index scores using the United States (US) cross walk algorithm, with scores ranging from -0.11 to 1.0. A higher score indicates better health state.