Aging clinical and experimental research
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Discrimination in research of new drugs for older people is frequent. We examined research protocols submitted to a research ethics committee, to ascertain whether they stipulated unjustified upper age limits, and whether these age limits are changing in time. ⋯ Unjustified age limits are frequent in the protocols of intervention studies, although the numbers have been falling recently. Ethics research committees are in a strong position to influence research practice and to reduce unethical age discrimination.
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This evaluation of the cost-effectiveness of risedronate vs generic alendronate is based on effectiveness data from a large real practice study. Applying a published cost-effectiveness model, we found that risedronate is cost-effective vs generic alendronate in an Italian population aged > or =65 years, and becomes dominant, saving costs and avoiding fractures, in patients aged > or =75 years. The aim of this work was to assess the cost-effectiveness and health utility of risedronate vs generic alendronate in clinical practice in Italy, using effectiveness data from the REAL study. ⋯ This economic analysis showed that risedronate is a cost-effective treatment in a population of Italian women aged 65 years and older at high risk of PMO-related fractures. Risedronate becomes dominant over generic alendronate in patients of 75 years or older and its cost-effectiveness even appears improved in patients with BMD score < or = -3 or < or = -3.5, with/without maternal history of fractures. Risedronate should be considered as a cost-effective option vs generic alendronate, in the Italian NHS' perspective.