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Use of Alendronate Associated with Near Doubling of Atrial Fibrillation Risk

Older women who use the osteoporosis drug alendronate may be at increased risk for atrial fibrillation (AF), reports Archives of Internal Medicine.

Researchers at a large healthcare system identified roughly 700 older women who had experienced AF, and matched them with nearly 1000 women who had not. Overall, 6.5% of cases and 4.1% of controls had ever used alendronate. After adjustment for factors including cardiovascular diagnoses, the odds of developing AF was 1.8 times higher in alendronate users. The risk associated with alendronate was higher in women with diabetes, as well as in current statin users.

The authors conclude: "The benefits of fracture prevention in patients at high risk for fracture will generally outweigh the possible risk of AF. However, it is important to carefully weigh the benefits against the possible risk of AF in women who have only modestly increased fracture risk and in women who have risk factors for AF, such as diabetes mellitus, coronary disease, or heart failure."

LINK(S):

Archives of Internal Medicine article (Free abstract; full text requires subscription)

Journal Watch Women's Health coverage of recent BMJ study showing no link between alendronate and atrial fibrillation and flutter (Subscription required)

Published in Physician's First Watch April 29, 2008