Evidence
This page contains a snapshot of featured content which highlights evidence addressing key clinical questions including areas of uncertainty. Please see the main topic reference list for details of all sources underpinning this topic.
BMJ Best Practice evidence tables
Evidence tables provide easily navigated layers of evidence in the context of specific clinical questions, using GRADE and a BMJ Best Practice Effectiveness rating. Follow the links at the bottom of the table, which go to the related evidence score in the main topic text, providing additional context for the clinical question. Find out more about our evidence tables.
This table is a summary of the analysis reported in a Cochrane Clinical Answer that focuses on the above important clinical question.
Confidence in the evidence is high or moderate to high where GRADE has been performed and the intervention is more effective/beneficial than the comparison for key outcomes.
Population: Adults with corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis
Intervention: Bisphosphonates
Comparison: Placebo
| Outcome | Effectiveness (BMJ rating)? | Confidence in evidence (GRADE)? |
|---|---|---|
New radiographic vertebral fractures (follow‐up: 12‐24 months) | Favours intervention | High |
New radiographic non-vertebral fractures (follow‐up: 12‐24 months) | No statistically significant difference | Low |
Bone mineral density (BMD) at lumbar spine (follow‐up: 12 months) | Favours intervention | Moderate |
BMD at lumbar spine (follow‐up: 18‐24 months) | Favours intervention | GRADE assessment not performed for this outcome |
BMD at femoral neck (follow‐up: 12 months) | Favours intervention | Moderate |
BMD at femoral neck (follow‐up: 18‐24 months) | Favours intervention | GRADE assessment not performed for this outcome |
Serious adverse events (follow‐up: 12‐24 months) | No statistically significant difference | Low |
Withdrawals due to adverse events (follow‐up: 12‐24 months) | No statistically significant difference | Low |
Quality of life | - | None of the studies identified by the review assessed this outcome |
This evidence table is related to the following section/s:
Cochrane Clinical Answers
Cochrane Clinical Answers (CCAs) provide a readable, digestible, clinically focused entry point to rigorous research from Cochrane systematic reviews. They are designed to be actionable and to inform decision making at the point of care and have been added to relevant sections of the main Best Practice text.
- How do bisphosphonates compare with placebo for improving outcomes in people with steroid-induced osteoporosis?
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