Bisphosphonates and mortality: confounding in observational studies?

ABSTRACT: Numerous observational studies suggest that bisphosphonates reduce mortality. This study showed that bisphosphonate use is associated with lower mortality within days of treatment, although the association was not significant until the second week. Such an early association is consistent with confounding, although an early treatment effect cannot be ruled out.

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to examine whether confounding explains why numerous observational studies show that bisphosphonate use is associated with lower mortality. To this end, we examined how soon after treatment initiation a lower mortality rate can be observed. We hypothesized that, due to confounding, the association would be observed immediately.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study of h

SUBMITTER: Bergman J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6795608 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature