Patients with osteoporosis: Treatment with zoledronic acid instead of alendronic acid is associated with a higher risk of ischemic stroke - A real-world global study

Abstract

Aims: We aimed to determine whether prolonged use of bisphosphonates increases the risk of ischemic stroke in the general population and in individuals with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study adhering to the STROBE checklist. We assessed ischemic stroke incidence following alendronic or zoledronic acid treatment in 1,905,808 patients aged ≥55 years with osteoporosis using TriNetX data from January 1, 2002, to December 31, 2022. Patients were stratified by age and gender, and propensity score matching was used to minimize confounding. Analyses focused on the general population and subgroups with pre-existing atrial fibrillation or atherosclerosis. Hazard ratios were calculated at 5, 10, and 15 years post-index date, using alendronic acid users as the reference (HR = 1). The Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to estimate event-free survival over time.

Results: Zoledronic acid was associated with an increased ischemic stroke risk at 5, 10, and 15 years of follow-up compared to alendronic acid in the general population, in women, and in patients without pre-existing atrial fibrillation or aortic atherosclerosis. The Kaplan-Meier analysis of stroke-free survival at 15 years showed 85.9 % in the zoledronic acid group and 89.9 % in the alendronic acid group, with a hazard ratio of 1.22 (95 % confidence interval, 1.11-1.34).

Conclusions: Zoledronic acid was associated with an increased ischemic stroke risk compared to alendronic acid in the general population, in women, and in patients without pre-existing atrial fibrillation or aortic atherosclerosis. Therefore, we recommend long-term follow-up and strict management of stroke risk factors in these relatively vulnerable populations.

Keywords: Atherosclerosis; Atrial fibrillation; Bisphosphonates; Ischemic stroke; Osteoporosis.