Efficacy of osteoporosis pharmacotherapies in preventing fracture among oral glucocorticoid users: a network meta-analysis

27 randomized controlled trials that examined 9 different active treatments were included in this network meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of various treatments compared to placebo plus calcium and vitamin D in the treatment of patients with glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. Outcomes assessed in this network meta-analysis were incidence of vertebral fractures, incidence of non-vertebral fractures, and bone mineral density at the lumbar spine and femoral neck. The results of this analysis indicate that only etidronate, risedronate, and teriparatide were associated with a significantly decreased risk of vertebral fracture relative to placebo plus calcium and vitamin D. No treatments demonstrated a reduction in the risk of non-vertebral fracture when compared to placebo plus calcium and vitamin D.