Arthritis drugs may be linked to lower osteoporosis risk
Compared with no biologic exposure, adjusted osteoporosis hazard ratios—a measure of relative risk—were 0.83 for tumor necrosis factor inhibitors and 0.19 for interleukin-17 inhibitors.
Our read
Populations- Studied:
- Cohort study of 37,708 people with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis
- What changed:
- Osteoporosis risk was lower with TNFi (hazard ratio 0.83) and IL-17i (0.19) compared with the bDMARD-naive group
- The catch:
- Outcomes were identified from diagnosis codes
- In the record:
- One of 6 papers on IL-17 inhibitors on record: 3 with results in people.
- Why it’s aging research:
- A leading disease of aging, its risks or menopause.
Editor of record: Boris Djordjevic · AgingResearch.News
A nationwide observational cohort study followed 37,708 people with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis, a form of inflammatory spinal arthritis visible on X-rays. Researchers compared two classes of biologic drugs, which target inflammation-related proteins: tumor necrosis factor inhibitors and interleukin-17 inhibitors. Follow-up ran from arthritis diagnosis through December 2021.
Both classes were associated with lower risk of osteoporosis, a condition that weakens bones, compared with no biologic exposure. Interleukin-17 inhibitors were also associated with lower osteoporosis risk than tumor necrosis factor inhibitors. Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors were associated with lower spine-fracture risk, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 0.64 versus no biologic exposure. For interleukin-17 inhibitors, the estimated spine-fracture risk was lower, but the range of likely values included no difference. Hip-fracture risk did not differ across groups.
Why it matters
Osteoporosis and fractures are concerns in aging, making bone health relevant when comparing drugs for inflammatory spinal arthritis.
Caveats
The observational design cannot establish cause and effect, and outcomes were identified from diagnosis codes. The findings may not apply to people without this form of spinal arthritis.
- Biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug
- IL-17 inhibitors
- TNF
- Osteoporosis
- Radiographic axial spondyloarthritis
- Humans
The paper
Yonsei University
The Journal of Rheumatology, Mar 3, 2026
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