Bisphosphonate Use Is Not Associated With Tuberculosis Risk Among Patients With Osteoporosis: A Nationwide Cohort Study

Abstract

Bisphosphonates are considered an effective inhibitor of glutamine synthetase and thus can be used for treating tuberculosis (TB). However, its clinical benefit in TB remains unknown. We conducted a population‐based cohort study by using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database and TB databases of the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control. Patients with osteoporosis and a history of bone fracture from 2007 to 2014 were identified. Among them, bisphosphonate users and propensity score–matched nonusers were selected. A stratified multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression model was employed to investigate the independent predictors of TB. Among 218 908 patients with osteoporosis and bone fracture, 46 842 bisphosphonate users and 46 842 propensity score–matched nonusers were selected. Within the 2‐year follow‐up, 723 patients—348 in the user group and 375 in the nonuser group—developed TB. Bisphosphonate use was not an independent predictor of TB in the multivariable Cox proportional hazard model (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.86; 95%CI, 0.71‐1.04); however, male sex, older age, being bedridden, and steroid use were independent risk factors. The real‐world data revealed that bisphosphonate use did not protect patients with osteoporosis against TB.