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Yavropoulou MP, Kasdagli MI, Makras P, Diomatari KM, Anastasilakis AD, Mitsikostas DD, Kassi E, Sfikakis PP, Kravvariti E. Nocebo-associated treatment discontinuation with subcutaneous anti-osteoporotic drugs. A systematic review and meta-analysis of placebo-arm dropouts in randomized-controlled trials. Maturitas 2024; 179:107874. [PMID: 37976923 DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2023.107874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Nocebo is a concept of therapeutics referring to unpleasant symptoms attributed by a patient to a drug, due to negative anticipation. Patients receiving oral anti-osteoporotic drugs in randomized controlled trials (RCT) can experience adverse events leading to dropout, implying that nocebo contributes to treatment discontinuation for these drugs. In this study we aim to investigate the nocebo effect of subcutaneous anti-osteoporotic drugs with a higher compliance rate than orally administered drugs. STUDY DESIGN We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and Cochrane databases for double-blind trials investigating subcutaneous anti-osteoporotic drugs for osteoporosis (namely, denosumab, teriparatide, abaloparatide and romosozumab) published up to May 2023. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Dropouts due to reported adverse events in the placebo arms ("nocebo dropouts"). RESULTS Data from 17 trials were extracted. Among 10,529 placebo-treated patients the pooled nocebo-dropout percentage was 3 % for denosumab (average: 0.03; 95 % CI: 0.01-0.05), 1 % for romosozumab (average: 0.01; 95 % CI: 0.00-0.03) and 6 % for teriparatide and abaloparatide (average: 0.06; 95 % CI: 0.05-0.07). Nocebo-dropouts were significantly higher in men than women (6 % vs. 3 %, respectively, p = 0.012), in older (mean age >68 years) than in younger patients (5 % vs. 1 %, respectively, p = 0.017) and in those with more severe osteoporosis (based on the percentage of participants with prior fragility-related fractures in the study cohort) compared with patients with no prior fracture history (4 % vs. 1 %, respectively, p = 0.046). CONCLUSION Nocebo responses may contribute to treatment discontinuation with subcutaneous anti-osteoporotic drugs in clinical practice. Higher nocebo-related dropout rates in the higher-risk RCT population (older patients, males, those with prior fractures) show that nocebo mechanisms have the potential to hinder therapeutic efforts to specific populations who would benefit most. Prospero registration number CRD42020212843.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria P Yavropoulou
- Endocrinology Unit, 1st Department of Propaedeutic and Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Laikon University Hospital of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece.
| | - Maria-Iosifina Kasdagli
- Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Polyzois Makras
- Department of Medical Research, 251 Hellenic Air Force & VA General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantina-Maria Diomatari
- Postgraduate Medical Studies in the Physiology of Aging and Geriatric Syndromes, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | | | - Dimos D Mitsikostas
- 1st Neurology Department, Aeginition Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11528 Athens, Greece
| | - Eva Kassi
- Endocrinology Unit, 1st Department of Propaedeutic and Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Laikon University Hospital of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Petros P Sfikakis
- Endocrinology Unit, 1st Department of Propaedeutic and Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Laikon University Hospital of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece; 1st Department of Propaedeutic and Internal Medicine, Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Laikon University Hospital of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Evrydiki Kravvariti
- Endocrinology Unit, 1st Department of Propaedeutic and Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Laikon University Hospital of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece; 1st Department of Propaedeutic and Internal Medicine, Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Laikon University Hospital of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
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Tzoulis P, Yavropoulou MP. Association of hyponatremia with bone mineral density and fractures: a narrative review. Ther Adv Endocrinol Metab 2023; 14:20420188231197921. [PMID: 37736657 PMCID: PMC10510353 DOI: 10.1177/20420188231197921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent studies suggest a possible association of hyponatremia with osteoporosis, falls and bone fractures. The objectives of this narrative review were to further explore this association and the related pathophysiological mechanisms and to suggest a practical approach to patients with osteoporosis or chronic hyponatremia in clinical practice. We conducted an extensive PubMed search until October 2022 with the combination of the following keywords: 'hyponatremia' or 'sodium' or 'SIADH' and 'fractures' or 'bone' or 'osteoporosis', as MeSH Terms. Review of numerous observational studies confirms a significant independent association of, even mild, hyponatremia with two- to three-fold increase in the occurrence of bone fractures. Hyponatremia is a risk factor for osteoporosis with a predilection to affect the hip, while the magnitude of association depends on the severity and chronicity of hyponatremia. Chronic hyponatremia also increases the risk for falls by inducing gait instability and neurocognitive deficits. Besides the detrimental impact of hyponatremia on bone mineral density and risk of falls, it also induces changes in bone quality. Emerging evidence suggests that acute hyponatremia shifts bone turnover dynamics towards less bone formation, while hyponatremia correction increases bone formation. The key unanswered question whether treatment of hyponatremia could improve osteoporosis and lower fracture risk highlights the need for prospective studies, evaluating the impact of sodium normalization on bone metabolism and occurrence of fractures. Recommendations for clinical approach should include measurement of serum sodium in all individuals with fracture or osteoporosis. Also, hyponatremia, as an independent risk factor for fracture, should be taken into consideration when estimating the likelihood for future fragility fracture and in clinical decision-making about pharmacological therapy of osteoporosis. Until it is proven that normalization of sodium can lower fracture occurrence, correcting hyponatremia cannot be universally recommended on this basis, but should be decided on a case-by-case basis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ploutarchos Tzoulis
- Department of Metabolism & Experimental Therapeutics, Division of Medicine, University College London Medical School, Gower Street, London, WC1E6BT, UK
| | - Maria P. Yavropoulou
- Department of Propaedeutic and Internal Medicine, Medical School of University of Athens, Endocrinology Unit, Athens, Attica, Greece
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Kravvariti E, Kasdagli MI, Diomatari KM, Mouratidou P, Daskalakis K, Mitsikostas DD, Sfikakis PP, Yavropoulou MP. Meta-analysis of placebo-arm dropouts in osteoporosis randomized-controlled trials and implications for nocebo-associated discontinuation of anti-osteoporotic drugs in clinical practice. Osteoporos Int 2023; 34:585-598. [PMID: 36596944 DOI: 10.1007/s00198-022-06658-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Dropout from placebo arms in randomized-controlled trials is a surrogate for nocebo responses, resulting from patients' negative expectations to treatment. Among 16,460 placebo-treated patients in oral anti-osteoporotic drug trials, nocebo dropouts were 8% on average, being higher in older patients. This implies that nocebo may contribute to the osteoporosis treatment gap in clinical practice. PURPOSE Osteoporosis is a common disease requiring long-term treatment. Despite the availability of effective anti-osteoporotic drugs, adherence to treatment is low. Nocebo, a behavior mostly related to the negative expectations to a certain treatment, decreases adherence and negatively affects treatment outcomes and health-related care costs in chronic diseases. Since in double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trials any unfavorable outcome leading to discontinuation in placebo arms is considered as nocebo, we aimed to investigate the size of nocebo response in patients participating in osteoporosis trials. METHODS We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and Cochrane databases for dropouts due to reported adverse events in the placebo arms (nocebo dropouts) in all double-blind trials investigating anti-osteoporotic drugs published between January 1993 and March 2022. Only data on bisphosphonates and selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) were analyzed (Prospero registration number CRD42020212843). RESULTS Data from 44 trials were extracted. In 16,460 placebo-treated patients, the pooled nocebo-dropout was 8% both for bisphosphonates (average: 0.08; range 0.01-0.27; 95%CI 0.06-0.10) and SERMs (average: 0.08; range 0.03-0.15; 95%CI 0.05-0.13). Nocebo-dropouts were higher in bisphosphonate trials enrolling individuals ≥ 65 years (11%) (n = 18) compared to trials enrolling younger individuals (6%) (n = 18) (average: 0.11; 95%CI 0.08-0.13 vs. average: 0.06; 95%CI 0.05-0.08, respectively, p = 0.001). Participants' sex, dosing-intervals, publication year, or severity of osteoporosis had no impact on the nocebo-dropouts. CONCLUSION Almost 1 in 10 osteoporosis patients receiving placebo in trials of bisphosphonates and SERMs experiences AEs leading to dropout, implying that nocebo contributes to treatment-discontinuation in clinical practice. Efforts to identify and minimize nocebo, especially in older patients, are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evrydiki Kravvariti
- 1st Propaedeutic and Internal Medicine Clinic, Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, Laikon General Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527, Athens, Greece.
- Postgraduate Medical Studies in the Physiology of Aging and Geriatric Syndromes, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527, Athens, Greece.
| | - Maria-Iosifina Kasdagli
- Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527, Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantina Maria Diomatari
- Postgraduate Medical Studies in the Physiology of Aging and Geriatric Syndromes, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527, Athens, Greece
| | - Pelagia Mouratidou
- Postgraduate Medical Studies in the Physiology of Aging and Geriatric Syndromes, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527, Athens, Greece
| | - Kosmas Daskalakis
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, 701 85, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Dimos D Mitsikostas
- 1st Neurology Department, Aeginition Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11528, Athens, Greece
| | - Petros P Sfikakis
- 1st Propaedeutic and Internal Medicine Clinic, Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, Laikon General Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527, Athens, Greece
- Postgraduate Medical Studies in the Physiology of Aging and Geriatric Syndromes, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria P Yavropoulou
- Endocrinology Unit, 1st Department of Propaedeutic and Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Laikon General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527, Athens, Greece
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Yavropoulou MP, Tsokos GC, Chrousos GP, Sfikakis PP. Protracted stress-induced hypocortisolemia may account for the clinical and immune manifestations of Long COVID. Clin Immunol 2022; 245:109133. [PMID: 36182048 PMCID: PMC9519365 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2022.109133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
About one out of eight people to convalesce from COVID-19 suffer from the so called Long COVID, a syndrome of non-specific symptoms with unclear pathogenesis. In a recent study published in Cell Long COVID participants reporting respiratory symptoms had low cortisol levels. In an as yet unpublished analysis from Yale University low plasma cortisol levels discriminated Long COVID from asymptomatic convalescent or healthy non-infected controls. Although various immune perturbations were present in Long COVID, low levels of cortisol were prominent and strikingly, depression and anxiety were increased. It has become clear that Long COVID features may be similar to those described in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, post-SARS sickness syndrome, and various chronic stress syndromes which have been linked to hypocortisolemia. Notably, lack of response of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis to hypocortisolemia shows a suppressed axis in Long COVID. We suggest that the inability of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis to recover after the acute illness, perhaps due to protracted stress in predisposed individuals, may represent the pathogenetic basis of the Long COVID-associated clinical and immunological manifestations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria P Yavropoulou
- 1(st) Department of Propaedeutic and Internal Medicine, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - George C Tsokos
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - George P Chrousos
- University Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health and Precision Medicine and UNESCO Chair on Adolescent Health Care, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Petros P Sfikakis
- 1(st) Department of Propaedeutic and Internal Medicine, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece.
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