A population-based five-year study on the risk of stroke in patients with osteoporosis in Taiwan

Osteoporosis and stroke are common diseases in elder patients. The relationship between these two diseases is unclear. This study was intended to estimate the risk of stroke among elder persons aged ≥ 50 years within five years of being diagnosed with osteoporosis.

We retrieved data from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2005 (LHID2005) in Taiwan to perform a nationwide population-based study. There were 2580 patients with osteoporosis aged 50 years of age and older in the study cohort. All of them had at least 2 ambulatory care claims or at least 1 inpatient service claim. Each osteoporotic patient was matched to 5 non-osteoporotic patients based on gender, age, and the index year. Subjects in both groups were followed up for five years. Risk of developing stroke and 5-year stroke-free survival rates were evaluated.

The risk of developing stroke was 1.24 times higher in osteoporotic patients within a 5-year follow-up period compared to an age- and gender-matched cohort without osteoporosis (95% confidence interval = 1.11-1.39; p < 0.001). Patients with osteoporosis also had a significantly lower 5-year stroke-free survival rate.

Our results indicated that patients with osteoporosis history had higher risk for development of stroke.