The association between multiple sclerosis and fracture risk.

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Orthopedics
• Neurology

Background:

• Prior studies on multiple sclerosis (MS) and fracture risk yielded inconsistent results.
• A definitive association between MS and increased fracture risk remained inconclusive.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential association between multiple sclerosis and fracture risk.
• To provide a comprehensive analysis by pooling data from multiple eligible studies.

Main Methods:

• A meta-analysis was conducted, including studies published up to August 2014.
• Nine studies encompassing over 9,000,000 subjects were analyzed.
• Random-effects models were used to derive pooled risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Main Results:

• Multiple sclerosis was significantly associated with an increased risk of fracture in the overall population (OR = 1.58).
• Subgroup analyses revealed significant associations for femur (RR = 4.57), hip (RR = 3.01), tibia (RR = 2.72), humerus (RR = 1.78), pelvis (RR = 1.34), and vertebrae (RR = 1.30).

Conclusions:

• This meta-analysis provides strong evidence suggesting that multiple sclerosis is associated with a higher risk of fracture development.
• The findings highlight specific fracture sites, such as the femur and hip, that are particularly vulnerable in individuals with MS.