Impact of biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs on fracture risk in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

F. Shao, H.-C. Li, M.-J. Wang, C.-M. Cui

Department of Rheumatology, The Third People’s Hospital of Huzhou city, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, P.R. China. ronyaya@126.com

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• Rheumatology

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review aimed to assess the impact of biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) use on the risk of fracture in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by conducting a pooled analysis of adjusted outcomes from individual studies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: PubMed, Embase, and BioMed Central were searched up to 20th January 2021. Multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (OR) or matched estimates on the impact of bDMARDs on fracture risk were pooled.

RESULTS: Nine studies were included. We found no statistically significant difference in the risk of fractures in RA patients using bDMARDs vs. non-users. On sensitivity analysis, we found no change in the significance of the effect size on exclusion of any study. There was no statistically significant difference in fracture risk in studies only on tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, as well as those including any bDMARDs. Pooled analysis of only three studies indicated a statistically significant reduction in vertebral fractures in bDMARD users vs. non-users.

CONCLUSIONS: Within the ambit of several limitations of our review, there seems to be no impact of bDMARDs on the fracture risk in RA patients. Further studies evaluating the type and duration of bDMARD therapy with meticulous adjustment of confounding factors are required to strengthen current evidence.

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