Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41424145›Full record

SynthesisAnnals of medicine2026

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on osteoporotic fractures: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Peiyuan Tang, Ruijie Xiao, Wenfeng Xiao, Ting Wen, Yusheng Li, Bangbao Lu, Xucheng Yang

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Annals of medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Revised Swedish FRAX models and the establishment of age-dependent intervention thresholds.Osteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Peiyuan TangDepartment of Orthopedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Ruijie XiaoXiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China.ORCID 0009-0008-2896-2558
Wenfeng XiaoDepartment of Orthopedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Ting WenDepartment of Orthopedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Yusheng LiDepartment of Orthopedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Bangbao LuDepartment of Orthopedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Xucheng YangDepartment of Orthopedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundRecent reports suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns may have influenced the epidemiology of osteoporotic fractures, but results vary across regions and fracture types. The aim of this study was to provide evidence-based insights into the impact of the pandemic on osteoporotic fracture incidence.

methodsWe searched four databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science) up to August 2025 for observational or retrospective studies comparing osteoporotic fracture incidence during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020) with the pre-pandemic period (2019). The primary outcome of interest was the change in fracture incidence, analysed using risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) in Review Manager 5.4. Subgroup analyses were performed by sex, geographic region, and fracture type.

resultsNine studies meeting the inclusion criteria were analysed. Overall, "all types" of osteoporotic fractures showed a significant decrease during the pandemic (RR = 0.85, 95% CI 0.80-0.91,

conclusionDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a decrease in the incidence of minor fractures, such as those of the forearm, likely due to reduced outdoor activity. However, the incidence of major osteoporotic fractures (hip and vertebral) remained stable globally, with significant reductions observed only in specific regions like South America.

Indexed as

COVID-19Osteoporotic FracturesFemaleHip FracturesHumansIncidenceMalePandemicsSARS-CoV-2Spinal FracturesCOVID-19fracturemeta-analysisosteoporosisSARS-CoV-2

Identifiers

PMID41424145
PMCPMC12724176

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.