Osteoporosis Drugs Don’t Reduce Overall Mortality

“Although this meta-analysis did not support the claim that drug treatments for osteoporosis have an association with reduced overall mortality rates owing to causes other than decreased fracture risk, it did not exclude the possibility that decreasing the risk of fractures may be associated with reducing the mortality caused by those fractures,” they acknowledge.

Nonetheless, the researchers conclude that drug treatments for patients with osteoporosis “should only be recommended for reducing fracture risk in accordance with clinical guidelines.”

The study had no specific funding. Dr. Cummings reported receiving grants and personal fees from Amgen during the conduct of the study.

Reference

1. Cummings SR, Lui LY, Eastell R, et al. Association between drug treatments for patients with osteoporosis and overall mortality rates: A Meta-analysis. JAMA Intern Med. 2019 Aug 19. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2019.2779. [Epub ahead of print]