Ibandronate dose response is associated with increases in bone mineral density and reductions in clinical fractures: Results of a meta-analysis

This meta-analysis pooled data from the four phase III clinical trials of ibandronate to assess the relationship between ibandronate dose, changes in bone mineral density, and rates of both clinical and non-vertebral fractures. Individual patient data from the intent-to-treat population of the BONE, IV fracture prevention, MOBILE, and DIVA studies were included for analysis. The relationship between ibandronate dose and bone mineral density at both the lumbar spine and at the total hip was assessed qualitatively. The relationship between lumbar spine bone mineral density and clinical fracture rate, and the relationship between total hip bone mineral density and non-vertebral fracture rate, were assessed both qualitatively and using mathematical models.A total of 8710 patients were included in this analysis. Both lumbar spine and total hip bone mineral density were observed to increase with increasing ibandronate dose. The incidence of all clinical fractures was observed to decrease as lumbar spine bone mineral density increased. A statistically significant inverse linear relationship was observed between percent change in lumbar spine bone mineral density and the rate of clinical fractures (P = 0.005). A non-significant curvilinear relationship was observed between percent change in total hip bone mineral density and non-vertebral fracture rate. Increased ibandronate exposure is associated with increasing gains in the lumbar spine bone mineral density and decreasing clinical fracture rates. A non-linear relationship may exist between increases in the total hip bone mineral density and non-vertebral fracture rate.