Multicentre trial involving 13 hospitals in United Kingdom, with patients entered by 17 Consultant Chest Physicians. Consenting patients were randomised in a central office to either HRT, etidronate, HRT plus etidronate or no treatment. Information on the progress of the patients was requested by the co-ordinating office annually for 5 years after entry to the trial. Outcomes were measured as new symptomatic fractures,new or worsening morphometric fractures of the thoraco-lumbar spine and changes in bone mineral density.
