Objective
To investigate the effectiveness and safety of combining zoledronic acid with calcium supplements and calcitriol in treating primary osteoporosis in elderly patients.
Methods
Seventy-eight elderly patients with primary osteoporosis were recruited. They were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the CC group (calcium carbonate D3 tablets + calcitriol soft capsules) or the CCZ group (calcium carbonate D3 tablets + calcitriol soft capsules + zoledronic acid injection). The treatment duration was 1 year. Bone mineral density (BMD), bone metabolism markers, quality of life (QoL), clinical efficacy, and incidence of adverse reactions (ARs) were assessed.
Results
CCZ group showed increased BMD in the lumbar spine (L1~L4 segments), femoral neck, and hip after treatment relative to CC group. Serum levels of bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, cross-linked type 1 collagen C-terminal peptide, and N-terminal propeptide of type 1 procollagen decreased, while osteocalcin levels increased. The QoL Questionnaire of the European Foundation for Osteoporosis scores decreased (P < 0.05 for all comparisons). The clinical effective rates were 76.93% in the CC group and 92.31% in the CCZ group, with AR rates of 23.08% and 12.82%, respectively (P < 0.05 for both).
Conclusion
Zoledronic acid treatment in elderly patients with primary osteoporosis demonstrates significant efficacy by increasing bone density, improving bone metabolism, enhancing QoL, and exhibiting high safety.