Postmenopausal（绝经后的） women with diabetes¹（糖尿病） taking thiazolidinediones (TZDS噻唑烷二酮), including rosiglitazone（罗格列酮） and pioglitazone（吡格列酮） , may be at increased risk for fractures according to a new study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology（内分泌学） & Metabolism² (JCEM). Men with diabetes taking both loop diuretics（利尿剂） and TZDs may also be at increased risk of fractures. "Our study shows that increased fracture risk is associated with higher TZD dose, but no difference between rosiglitazone and pioglitazone is apparent suggesting a class effect of TZDs on fracture risk," said William Herman, MD, MPH, of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor³ and senior author of the study. "Physicians should be aware of this risk and weigh the benefits and risks of therapy when they initially⁴ prescribe or renew prescriptions⁵ for TZDs."

Using data from Translating Research into Action for Diabetes (TRIAD), a multi-center prospective⁶ observational study of diabetes care in managed care, researchers conducted a matched case-control study to assess the odds⁸ of TZD exposure in patients with type 2 diabetes with and without fractures. From the study, researchers identified 786 cases of fractures and 2,657 matched controls (diabetes patients without fractures).

Women aged⁷ 50 years and older with fractures, when compared to their matched controls, were significantly more likely to have filled prescriptions for TZDs. Men with fractures were more likely to have filled prescriptions for TZDs and loop diuretics when compared to their matched controls. This result is particularly interesting because in men, loop diuretics or TZDs alone did not confer significant risks.

"Future studies, particularly long-term, prospective randomized clinical trials will be needed to conclusively⁹ demonstrate small to moderate harm," said Herman.