Etidronate, calcium, or both did not reduce fracture rates in patients with asthma receiving glucocorticoid treatment.

MAIN RESULTS The groups did not differ for mortality (10%, 24%, 16%, and 16% in the etidronate only, calcium only, etidronate plus calcium, and no treatment groups, respectively); symptomatic fractures (6%, 8%, 10%, and 7%, respectively); or symptomatic fractures, semi quantitative vertebral fractures, or both (16%, 18%, 16%, and 20%, respectively). Groups receiving etidronate compared with groups not receiving etidronate, and groups receiving calcium compared with groups not receiving calcium, did not differ for rates of any fractures, respectively (table).