Increased fracture risk associated with iron-deficiency anemia: a population-based propensity score matched cohort study
Authors' conclusion
Anemia was associated with a significant 20% increase of any fracture; however, this was driven by the elevated risk among males and those over the age of 50 years. Among females, only hip and vertebral fracture risk was elevated, while males had an elevated risk at all sites.
Study context
- Population
- Adults in UK primary care (IQVIA Medical Research Database incorporating The Health Improvement Network (THIN))
- Participants
- 84,932 vs 158,731
- Exposure
- Anaemia vs propensity score matched controls
- Anemicn = 84,932
- Controlsn = 158,731reference
- Outcome
- Any fracture (stratified by fracture site, sex and age <50 and >=50 years)
Methodological detailspopulation-based, propensity-score matched, Cox proportional hazard models
- Population-based
- Propensity-score matched
- Cox proportional hazard models
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Any fracture
- Anemia associated with a significant 20% risk of any fracture
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Any fracture in females (subgroup)
- Anemia vs controls, females: no difference in any fracture risk
Fracture by site in males (subgroup)
- Males: significant risk at all fracture sites
Fracture by site, age ≥ 50 years (subgroup)
- Patients ≥ 50 years: elevated risks for all sites
Parts of this Brief are withheld: the automatic checks could not confirm them against the abstract.
Original publication
Increased fracture risk associated with iron-deficiency anemia: a population-based propensity score matched cohort study. Osteoporos Int. Published 11 May 2026. doi:10.
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