5 DDDs) prednisone equivalents. Moreover, nine patients (1.2 %) were excluded as they had medication records

available for less than 6 months prior to the first extraction date. Overall, 695 patients could be randomised, with 343 allocated to the intervention group and 352 to the control group. During the follow-up period, 38 (11.1 %) patients who were allocated to the intervention group and 36 (10.2 %) patients in the control group did not receive any new glucocorticoid prescription but did collect prescriptions for other drugs. Furthermore, 63 (18.4 %) patients in the intervention group and 72 (20.5 %) patients in the control group did not collect any prescription during follow-up (Fig. 1). Fig. 1 Flow chart of the study procedure The group assigned to the intervention was slightly younger than the control group (65.9 ± 16.9 vs. PD 332991 www.selleckchem.com/products/z-vad-fmk.html 68.7 ± 15.4 years, p = 0.02) and used hydrocortisone more often in the 6 months before baseline (7.0 % vs. 3.1 %, p = 0.02). All other baseline characteristics and mean follow-up time were similar selleck compound between the intervention and the control group (Table 1). Table 1 Baseline characteristics of patients in the intervention group and control group   Control group Intervention group p value N = 352 N = 343 Follow-up (mean ± SD months) 6.2 ± 1.1 6.2 ± 1.1 NS Female 55.4 % 54.5 % NS Age (mean ± SD

years) 68.7 ± 15.4 65.9 ± 16.9 0.02 Age categories  <50 years 11.6 % 18.4 % 0.01  50–70 years 36.1 % 31.5 % oxyclozanide NS  >70 years 52.3 % 50.1 % NS Type of glucocorticoid in the 6 months before baselinea  Betamethasone 1.4 % 0.3 % NS  Cortisone acetate 3.1 % 4.4 % NS  Dexamethasone 7.9 % 6.1 % NS  Fludrocortisone 2.0 % 2.9 % NS  Hydrocortisone 3.1 % 7.0 % 0.02  Methylprednisolone 0.3 % 0.3 % NS  Prednisolone

17.2 % 17.2 % NS  Prednisone 79.3 % 75.5 % NS  Triamcinolone 1.7 % 1.5 % NS  Cumulative DDDs of prednisone equivalents in the 6 months prior to baseline (mean ± SD) 183.3 ± 161.4 185.0 ± 172.3 NS  Cumulative DDD categories   <135 DDDs 41.2 % 37.9 % NS   135–270 DDDs 44.6 % 50.7 % NS   >270 DDDs 14.2 % 11.4 % NS Co-medication in the 6 months prior to baseline  Opioid analgesics 6.2 % 7.0 % NS  Cytostatic drugs 5.7 % 3.8 % NS  Anti-emetic drugs 4.5 % 2.9 % NS  Calcium 16.7 % 16.6 % NS  Vitamin D 6.0 % 7.0 % NS  HRT or SERMs 0.9 % 2.0 % NS  Anti-ulcer drugs 43.6 % 44.3 % NS  Bisphosphonate use >6 months prior to baseline 12.2 % 10.8 % NS Comparison of baseline characteristics between groups was significant at p < 0.05 HRT hormone replacement therapy, SERM selective estrogen receptor modulator, SD standard deviation, DDD defined daily dosage. aUse of more than one type of glucocorticoids per patient is possible During a mean follow-up period of 6.2 months, the primary endpoint (a prescription for a bisphosphonate during follow-up) was achieved by 39 patients (11.4 %) in the intervention group and by 28 patients (8.0 %) in the control group.