A study published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research indicates a potential secondary benefit for patients treated with denosumab for osteoporosis. Researchers examined claims data from Japan covering the years 2015 to 2024 to determine whether this medication might also lower the risk of developing osteoarthritis.
The findings show that new users of denosumab experienced a 16% lower risk of developing knee, hand, or hip osteoarthritis over a three-year period compared to those who started on oral bisphosphonates. The comparison included over 65,000 patients, primarily women with an average age of 78.
While the results suggest a correlation between denosumab use and reduced joint disease incidence, the authors emphasize the need for caution. Because this was an observational study based on medical claims, the team notes that these findings require confirmation through studies using clinically validated osteoarthritis outcomes rather than diagnostic codes alone.
Patients who switched from bisphosphonates to denosumab also showed a lower relative risk for osteoarthritis compared to those who continued their original medication, though this specific observation did not reach statistical significance. Further research will be necessary to understand the clinical implications of these data for long-term joint health management in osteoporosis patients.