Objective: To evaluate the anti-fracture effect and adverse effects of teriparatide versus bisphosphonate on postmenopausal osteoporosis. This study will provide evidence-based practice for the clinical selection of more effective and safer drugs for these patients.
Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library from database inception to July 2022. The keywords included "fracture"; "teriparatide", "bisphosphonate", "postmenopausal women", and "osteoporosis". Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing teriparatide versus bisphosphonates on the risk of fracture and adverse effects in postmenopausal osteoporosis were included in the analysis.
Results: Finally, 3376 participants were recruited in all 5 RCTs. The results revealed that teriparatide could decrease the rate of clinical vertebral fracture (OR=1.97, 95% CI=1.43-2.73, I2 = 0%, P < .0001) and new vertebral fractures (OR=2.44, 95% CI=1.70-3.50, I2 = 0%, P < .00001) compared with bisphosphonate. AE results refer to the type and frequency of adverse effects related to drug treatment. The rate of treatment discontinuous due to AEs (OR=0.63, 95% CI=0.48-0.83, I2 = 44%, P = .0009) with teriparatide was significantly greater than that with bisphosphonate. However, there was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events to death (OR=0.59, 95% CI=0.30-1.18, I2 = 0%, P = .13). The proportion of patients reporting adverse events in the teriparatide versus bisphosphonate groups was consistent across subgroups, except for the rate of dizziness (OR=0.53, 95% CI=0.31-0.90, I2 = 49%, P = .02).
Conclusions: Among postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, clinical vertebral fractures and new vertebral fractures decreased more in patients receiving teriparatide than in those receiving bisphosphonate. Although there were no differences in adverse events across subgroups, patients receiving teriparatide had a higher rate of dizziness than those receiving bisphosphonate.The results of this work will provide a reference for clinicians to select appropriate anti-osteoporosis drugs by comprehensively considering individual differences such as fracture risk and dizziness tolerance.