Statin use and risk of fracture: a meta-analysis

This meta-analysis investigates the associations of statins use and fracture risk. Two reviewers independently searched six databases including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Ovid, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Wanfang databases. Studies retrieved from database searches were screened using our stringent inclusion and exclusion criteria. A sum of 17 studies, published between 2000 and 2014, were included in this meta-analysis. The results of this meta-analysis suggested that statins use was associated with a decreased risk of fracture (OR=0.80; 95% CI, 0.73-0.88; P < 0.00001). In the subgroup analysis by study design, statins was significantly associated with a decreased risk of fracture in both case-control studies (OR=0.67; 95% CI, 0.55-0.87; P < 0.0001) and cohort studies (OR=0.86; 95% CI, 0.77-0.97; P=0.02). In the female subgroup analysis, statins user showed decreased fracture risk (OR=0.76; 95% CI, 0.63-0.92; P=0.005). In the subgroup analysis by duration of follow-up, studies with both long and short duration of follow-up showed decreased risk of fracture (OR=0.67; 95% CI, 0.54-0.82; P=0.001 and OR=0.85; 95% CI, 0.74-0.96; P=0.01). Studies with large sample size and small sample size showed decreased risk of fracture (OR=0.85; 95% CI, 0.77-0.94; P=0.002 and OR=0.65; 95% CI, 0.54-0.78; P < 0.0001). In conclusion, this meta-analysis suggested a significant association between statins use and decreased fracture risk.