Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of romosozumab (evenity) for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture in postmenopausal women: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (CDM-J)

Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2023 Jun;32(6):671-684. doi: 10.1002/pds.5594. Epub 2023 Feb 15.

Abstract

Purpose: Osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) is a common fragile fracture resulting from osteoporosis. We compared the efficacy and safety of romosozumab and commonly used osteoporosis drug treatments for the treatment of OVCF in postmenopausal women.

Methods: Through searching and screening five databases, we included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published through June 18, 2021 comparing different treatments. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews statement, the main objective was to evaluate the mean difference and risk ratio of the treatment effect. The primary measures of romosozumab efficacy used in this study were vertebral, non-vertebral, and clinical fracture events, and secondary outcomes were bone mineral density (BMD) changes at the lumbar spine, total hip, and femoral neck and the incidence of adverse events (AEs), RESULTS: Nine RCTs including 12 796 participants were included in the analysis, and romosozumab was compared with placebo, alendronate, and teriparatide in the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. The incidence of fractures, low BMD, and AEs was analyzed. Compared with the controls, three doses of romosozumab were linked to evident advantages in the treatment of low BMD and fractures but associated with increased hypersensitivity and injection site reaction risks. Furthermore, fewer AEs were observed in the romosozumab arms (210 mg: risk ratio = 0.96, 95% confidence interval = 0.93-0.99; 140 mg: risk ratio = 0.28, 95% confidence interval = 0.08-0.98) than in the alendronate and placebo arms.

Conclusions: Our meta-analysis revealed the evident advantages of romosozumab in the treatment of osteoporosis and low BMD in postmenopausal women and increased risks of hypersensitivity and injection site reactions.

Keywords: meta-analysis; osteoporosis; postmenopausal; romosozumab.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Alendronate / therapeutic use
  • Bone Density
  • Bone Density Conservation Agents*
  • Female
  • Fractures, Compression* / chemically induced
  • Fractures, Compression* / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Osteoporosis* / chemically induced
  • Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal* / drug therapy
  • Postmenopause
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

Substances

  • romosozumab
  • Bone Density Conservation Agents
  • Alendronate