A NEW study has revealed that patients with inflammatory arthritis (IA) who are currently using gabapentin or pregabalin, may face a higher risk of fractures. The study was conducted using data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink Aurum in England, and examined fracture risk in patients with IA, a population already vulnerable to bone fractures.
Researchers matched 2,485 patients with IA who experienced fractures to 12,244 controls. The findings showed that current gabapentin use was associated with a 36% increased risk of fractures compared to those who had stopped the medication more than 60 days prior. Both gabapentin and pregabalin individually exhibited a similar association, with higher risks noted among newer users.
The study also highlighted that gabapentin are increasingly prescribed to IA patients despite the lack of trial evidence supporting their efficacy for pain management in this group. Given the heightened fracture risk and the absence of proven benefits, researchers are calling for safer prescribing practices and greater scrutiny of gabapentin use in this population.
This research underscores the importance of re-evaluating pain management strategies for patients with IA to ensure treatments do not inadvertently increase the risk of adverse outcomes.
Aleksandra Zurowska, EMJ
Reference
Scott IC et al. Gabapentinoid use and the risk of fractures in patients with inflammatory arthritis: nested case–control study in the Clinical Practice Research Datalink Aurum. BMC Med. 2024;DOI: 10.1186/s12916-024-03774-5.
