Table 2. Efficacy of antiresorptive drugs.
| Drug |
Vertebral fractures (NNT) |
Hip fractures (NNT) |
Patient population studied (to determine NNT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oral bisphosphonates25 | 15–20 | 91 | Bone mineral density (T-score –2.0 to –4.0) Low-trauma fracture |
| Intravenous bisphosphonates25 | 14 | 91 | Bone mineral density (T-score –2.0 to –4.0) Low-trauma fracture |
| Raloxifene26 | 29 | n/a | Low bone mineral density (T-score less than –2.5) Low-trauma fracture |
| Denosumab27 | 21 | 200 | Bone mineral density only (T-score –2.5 to –4.0) |
| Teriparatide28 | 11 | n/a | Low bone mineral density (mean T-score –2.6) Low-trauma fracture |
NNT number needed to treat for three years to prevent fracture (all estimates based on drug effect compared to placebo)