Comparison of the Effects of Denosumab and Alendronate on Cardiovascular and Renal Outcomes in Osteoporotic Patients

A correlation between impaired bone metabolism, chronic kidney disease, and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) has been suggested. This study aimed to compare the effects of denosumab and alendronate, two anti-resorptive agents, on cardiovascular and renal outcomes in osteoporotic patients. Propensity score-matched cohort study comparing denosumab to alendronate users between January 2005 and December 2017 was conducted from a large medical organization in Taiwan. Risks of CVD development and renal function decline were estimated using Cox proportional hazard regression. A total 2523 patients were recruited in each group. No significant difference in cardiovascular events was found between the two groups over a 5-year study period. Stratified analysis results showed that denosumab was likely to exert protective effects against composite CVD in patients with medication possession rate ≥60% (adjusted hazard ratio (AHR), 0.74; p = 0.0493) and myocardial infraction (AHR, 0.42; p = 0.0415). Denosumab was associated with increased risk of renal function decline in male patients (AHR, 1.78; p = 0.0132), patients with renal insufficiency (AHR, 1.5; p = 0.0132), and patients with acute kidney injury during the study period (AHR, 1.53; p = 0.0154). Conclusively, denosumab may exert cardiovascular benefits in patients with good adherence but may have renal disadvantages in certain conditions and thus must be used with caution.