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Meta‐analysis about efficacy of anti‐resorptive drugs in post‐menopausal osteoporosis
Author(s) -
Macedo J. M. S.,
Macedo C. R. B.,
Elkis H.,
De Oliveira I. R.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of clinical pharmacy and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.622
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1365-2710
pISSN - 0269-4727
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2710.1998.00168.x
Subject(s) - medicine , placebo , osteoporosis , meta analysis , densitometry , randomized controlled trial , medline , pathology , alternative medicine , political science , law
Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of three groups of anti‐resorptive drugs in post‐menopausal osteoporosis. Data sources: We collected data covering the period between 1983 and 1995, by first using MEDLINE. References retrieved were scanned further to identify additional papers. Study selection: Only randomized studies evaluating bone mass by means of dual‐photon or dual energy densitometry over a period of 1 year were accepted. Data extraction: Studies were arranged into three drug groups. We used densitometry results after 1 year in all treatment or control groups. Factors which might interfere with the results were recorded for subsequent separate analysis. Data synthesis: The MEDLINE search identified almost 25,000 studies. On reading the abstracts, 275 trials appeared to be controlled trials and original copies were retrieved for detailed analysis. A total of 31 articles which satisfied the inclusion criteria were identified. The first meta‐analysis included studies which compared oestrogens and placebo, and the global effect‐size was 0·54 (95% CI 0·34, 0·73). The second meta‐analysis compared calcitonins with placebo and produced an effect‐size of 0·41 (95% CI 0·21, 0·61) The third analysis compared bisphosphonates and placebo and showed an effect‐size of 0·87 (95% CI 0·68, 1·07). Only oestrogen dose affected the results found. Conclusions: Bisphosphonates had the greatest effect on bone mass in post‐menopausal osteoporosis.