Prevalence of Osteoporosis in Cirrhosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The prevalence of osteoporosis in individuals with cirrhosis varies based on the diagnostic approach and etiology of the underlying liver disease. This systematic review aims to evaluate the prevalence of osteoporosis in individuals with cirrhosis. Electronic databases were searched for studies reporting the prevalence of osteoporosis among patients with cirrhosis. The primary outcome was the presence of osteoporosis, as determined by a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan. Secondary outcomes were levels of biochemical markers of bone metabolism, including calcium, vitamin D, phosphorus, and parathormone (PTH) levels. A cohort of 836 patients from 10 studies was included in the final analysis. The pooled rate of osteoporosis was 14.80% (95% CI: 14.19-15.49). Pooled levels of biochemical markers of bone metabolism were as follows: calcium 9.09 mg/dL (95% CI: 8.73-9.45), 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH vitamin D) 15.41 ng/mL (95% CI: 14.79-16.03), phosphorus 15.41 mg/dL (95% CI: 2.99-3.51), and PTH 26.58 pg/mL (95% CI: 25.45-27.71). Pooled levels of liver biochemistries were: bilirubin 3.04 mg/dL (95% CI: 2.84-3.25), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) 65.35 U/L (95% CI: 61.39-69.31), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) 50.17 U/L (95% CI: 46.18-54.10), alkaline phosphatase 133.31 U/L (95% CI: 124.89-141.73), and albumin 3.25 g/dL (95% CI: 3.05-3.45). Cirrhosis appears to be associated with an increased risk for osteoporosis, with a pooled prevalence of 15%. This can include men and individuals younger than 50 years of age, a cohort not typically considered to be at an increased risk of osteoporosis. Levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) were also significantly low. Further studies are required to evaluate the risk of osteoporosis based on the etiology and stage of cirrhosis, especially in younger males, to incorporate this into future prediction models for fragility fractures.