Risk factors for osteoporosis in rheumatoid arthritis patients: a meta-analysis
Authors' conclusion
This meta-analysis reveals female, age, postmenopausal status, prior fracture, and glucocorticoid therapy as major risk factors for osteoporosis in rheumatoid arthritis, with higher BMI as protective factors
Study context
- Population
- Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA); PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP and Chinese Biomedical databases from inception to December 31, 202457 articles
- Outcome
- Risk factors for osteoporosis (OP) in RA
Methodological detailsNewcastle-Ottawa Scale quality assessment, funnel plots and Egger's test for publication bias
- Newcastle-Ottawa Scale quality assessment
- Funnel plots and Egger's test for publication bias
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Risk factors for OP in RA (OR)
- Female
- OR = 2.10
- Advancing age
- OR = 1.11
- Prior fracture
- OR = 2.83
- Disease duration
- OR = 1.16
- Postmenopausal status
- OR = 3.96
- Elevated CTX
- OR = 1.01
- Higher DAS28 scores
- OR = 1.60
- Increased ESR
- OR = 1.05
- Higher Sharp Scores
- OR = 1.12
- RF titers
- OR = 1.01
- GC therapy
- OR = 2.34
- Higher BMI (protective)
- OR = 0.86
- Adequate 25-(OH)-D levels (protective)
- OR = 0.88
- Calcium and/or vitamin D supplementation (protective)
- OR = 0.49
Original publication
Risk factors for osteoporosis in rheumatoid arthritis patients: a meta-analysis. Osteoporos Int. Published 4 November 2025. doi:10.
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