Rosiglitazone, Pioglitazone, and Fractures: A Meta-Analysis

Research suggests that the diabetes drugs rosiglitazone (Avandia) and pioglitazone (Actos) confer excess risk for fractures (JW Womens Health Jun 26 2008 and JW May 8 2008). This meta-analysis adds additional perspective.

In 10 randomized trials that lasted at least 1 year and involved 14,000 patients overall, rosiglitazone and pioglitazone conferred significant excess risk for fractures (odds ratio, 1.45; P<0.001). Higher risk was noted in women (OR, 2.23) but not in men (OR, 1.00). Similar findings were noted in two observational studies. In addition, rosiglitazone and pioglitazone were associated with lower bone-mineral density in two randomized trials.