C-Reactive Protein and Fracture Risk: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Cohort Studies Through the Use of Both Frequentist and Bayesian Approaches

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-15-2020

Publication Title

Osteoporosis International

Volume

69

First page number:

1

Last page number:

11

Abstract

Summary: This systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted on all eligible cohort studies to evaluate the association between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and osteoporotic fracture risk. Both frequentist and Bayesian approaches were employed for the meta-analysis. We found that high tertiles of hs-CRP were significantly associated with increased fracture risk. Introduction: The association between the inflammatory marker CRP and osteoporotic fracture has remained uncertain. In this study, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the association of serum hs-CRP and fracture risk. Methods: We performed a systematic literature search of relevant databases, including PubMed, Embase, and MEDLINE publications from January 1950 through April 2020. Three reviewers independently performed the study selection, quality assessment, and data abstraction. Frequentist and Bayesian hierarchical random-effects models were used separately for the analysis. Statistical heterogeneity was assessed using Higgin’s I 2 and Cochran’s Q statistic, and publication bias was examined using funnel plots and rank correlation tests. Results: Fourteen cohort studies that reported t fracture outcomes were eligible for the systematic review. Only ten studies (n = 29,741) qualified for meta-analysis. In the frequentist approach, the RR for fracture in a comparison of the top tertile group to the bottom tertile group of hs-CRP was 1.54 (1.18, 2.01). The estimated risk of fracture remained significant in all sensitivity and subgroup analyses. Higgin’s I 2 (30.52%) and Cochran’s Q statistic (p < 0.01) suggested there was moderate heterogeneity for the meta-analysis. In the Bayesian approach, the pooled RR was 1.60 (95% CI (1.07–2.49)), and the probabilities that the high level of hs-CRP increased fracture risk by more than 0%, 10%, and 20% were 99%, 98%, and 93%, respectively. Conclusion: A high level of hs-CRP is associated with a significantly increased risk of osteoporotic fracture.

Keywords

Bayesian Meta-Analysis; C-Reactive Protein; Fracture; Meta-Analysis; Osteoporosis; Systematic Review

Disciplines

Epidemiology | Medicine and Health Sciences | Public Health

Language

English

Comments

A follow up letter entitled "Clarification of Some Issues Using Bayesian Methods and Model Selection in Meta-Analysis and Reporting" was published on August 12, 2021. The record for the letter can be accessed via the Related Content link.

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