Association between beta-blockers and fracture risk: A Bayesian meta-analysis
Publication Details
Yang, S., Nguyen, N. D., Eisman, J. A., & Nguyen, T. V.(2012). Association between beta-blockers and fracture risk: A Bayesian meta-analysis. Bone, 51(5), 969-974. doi:10.1016/j.bone.2012.07.013
Abstract
Background: The association between beta-blockers (BB) and fracture risk is controversial, due largely to conflicting findings from previous studies. The present study sought to evaluate the effect of BB on fracture risk by using a Bayesian meta-analysis approach.
Methods and results: We systematically retrieved 13 observational studies on the association between BB use and fracture risk. This meta-analysis involved more than 907,000 men and women with mean/median age of individual studies ranging from 43 to 81years. We used a hierarchical Bayesian random effects model to synthesize the results. BB use was associated with an average 17% reduction in the risk of any fracture (risk ratio [RR] 0.83; 95% credible interval [CrI]: 0.71–0.93), hip fracture (RR 0.83; 95% CrI: 0.70–0.92) and vertebral fracture (RR 0.81; 95% CrI: 0.61–0.99). The probability that BB use reduces fracture risk by at least 10% was 0.91.
Conclusions: Beta-blockers are associated with reduced risk of fracture in older adults, but the effect size is likely to be modest.
Keywords
peer-reviewed
