{Reference Type}: Journal Article {Title}: Comparative efficacy and safety of bisphosphonate therapy for bone loss in individuals after middle age: A systematic review and network meta-analysis {Author}: Hu, Qin; Pan, Xun; Liang, Yaxian; Xu, Hongdan; Gu, Jinning; She, Wenting; Huixu, Xie {Journal}: Nano TransMed {ISBN/ISSN}: {Year}: 2022 {Volume}: 1 {Issue}: 1 {Pages}: 9130003 {DOI}: 10.26599/NTM.2022.9130003 {Keywords}: fracture {Keywords}: bone loss {Keywords}: bisphosphonates {Keywords}: bone mineral density {Keywords}: nano-drug delivery system {Abstract}: PURPOSEThe purpose of this study was to estimate the benefits and drawbacks of bisphosphonates in the treatment of osteoporosis and osteopenia in middle-aged and elderly individuals.METHODSWe searched Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, the Web of Science, and Cochrane library databases for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) evaluating the effects of bisphosphonates and performed a network meta-analysis to summarize the direct and indirect evidence on the efficacy and safety of bisphosphonate therapy in middle-aged and elderly individuals with osteoporosis or osteopenia.RESULTSA total of 14 RCTs (7, 769 patients with osteoporosis or osteopenia; median age, 67 years; median follow-up, 27 months) were included in this network meta-analysis. Of these, 8, 10, 9, and 6 RCTs provided outcomes on bone mineral density changes, clinical fracture rates, vertebral fracture rates, and nonvertebral fracture rates, respectively. Regarding the primary efficacy outcome, there was a 97% probability for alendronate to be the most effective treatment approach for increasing bone mineral density and an 84% probability for zoledronate to be the most effective treatment approach for clinical fractures. Regarding vertebral fractures and safety outcomes, zoledronate showed an odds ratio (OR) of 0.45 (95% confidence intervals [CI], 0.30–0.69) relative to placebo. For nonvertebral fractures, the OR of zoledronate relative to placebo was 0.51 (95% CI 0.29–0.90).CONCLUSIONSThis study revealed that alendronate was effective in increasing bone mineral density in middle-aged individuals and that zoledronate was a safe treatment option for osteoporosis and osteopenia, conferring a low incidence of fracture. However, further clinical studies are needed to confirm these results. {URL}: https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.26599/NTM.2022.9130003 {Language}: en