J Bone Metab.  2020 Feb;27(1):27-34. 10.11005/jbm.2020.27.1.27.

Risk of Osteoporotic Fracture in Patients with Breast Cancer: Meta-Analysis

• Lee S
• Yoo JI
• Lee YK
• Park JW
• Won S
• Yeom J
• Im JW
• Lim SM
• Ha YC
• Koo KH

• KMID: 2471311
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.11005/jbm.2020.27.1.27

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The fracture risk induced by anti-estrogen therapy in patients with breast cancer remains controversial. The aim of this study was to perform a meta-analysis and systematic review to evaluate the risk of osteoporotic fracture in patients with breast cancer.
METHODS
A systematic search was performed to identify studies that included any osteoporotic fracture (hip fracture and vertebral fracture) in patients breast cancer. Main outcome measures were occurrence and risk of osteoporotic fractures including hip and vertebral fractures in patients and controls.
RESULTS
A systematic search yielded a total of 4 studies that included osteoporotic fracture outcomes in patients with breast cancer. Meta-analysis showed a higher risk of osteoporotic fracture in patients with breast cancer. Analysis of these 4 studies involving a total of 127,722 (23,821 cases and 103,901 controls) patients showed that the incidence of osteoporotic fractures was higher in the breast cancer group than in the control group. The pooled estimate of crude relative risk for osteoporotic fracture was 1.35 (95% confidence interval, 1.29-1.42; P<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
Although studies were limited by a small number, results suggested a possible association between anti-estrogen therapy and increased risk of osteoporotic fractures in patients with breast cancer.

Keyword

Breast neoplasms; Hip fractures; Osteoporotic fractures; Spinal fractures

MeSH Terms

Breast Neoplasms*
Breast*
Hip
Hip Fractures
Humans
Incidence
Osteoporotic Fractures*
Outcome Assessment (Health Care)
Spinal Fractures

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis flow diagram showing the process of selecting relevant studies.

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  Fig. 2 Forest plots for the effect of breast cancer on osteoporotic fractures determined by fixed effects meta-analysis.

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