Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42698428›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in endocrinology2026

Graves' disease and bone mineral density: a meta-analysis and UK Biobank.

Mengchu Wu, Jie Wang, Yunlin Lu, Mengting Yuan, Jiangxun Ji, Junhao Liang, Jiarui Cui, Hongyu Wang, Hongbin Xu, Tianpeng Liu and 8 more

Abstract readMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in endocrinology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

18 authors.

Mengchu Wu *Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Jie Wang *Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Yunlin Lu *The Affiliated Hospital of Gansu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, Gansu, China.
Mengting YuanLonghua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Jiangxun JiLonghua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Junhao LiangLonghua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Jiarui CuiLonghua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Hongyu WangLonghua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Hongbin XuLonghua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Tianpeng LiuLonghua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Yi ShenLonghua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Furui FuLonghua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Senjie ShiLonghua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Qi ShiLonghua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Libing ShenLonghua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Dezhi TangLonghua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Chunchun YuanLonghua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Yongjun WangLonghua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the association between Graves' disease (GD) and bone mineral density by integrating a meta-analysis with a large-scale cross-sectional analysis in the UK Biobank. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library for cohort and cross-sectional studies. The pooled findings were then examined in the UK Biobank using multivariable linear regression models with adjustment for age, BMI, lifestyle factors, vitamin D, calcium, and sex. Results: The meta-analysis (14 studies, 3,643 participants) showed that GD patients had significantly lower bone mineral density than controls (Mean Difference = -0.09, 95% CI [-0.10, -0.07], Conclusion: This dual-evidence approach provides suggestive, rather than definitive, evidence that GD is associated with reduced BMD. The meta-analysis suggested widespread BMD reductions in GD patients. However, due to the limited number of confirmed GD cases, the fully adjusted UK Biobank analysis adopted a broader exposure definition of hyperthyroidism and observed a nominally statistically significant association only at the ribs, with no significant differences detected at other skeletal sites. Given the limited replication of the meta-analysis findings and the high heterogeneity observed in the meta-analysis, we advocate for a risk-stratified approach to BMD screening that prioritizes postmenopausal women, older adults, and individuals with low BMI, rather than routine screening for all GD patients. These findings underscore the need for prospective studies with standardized protocols to clarify the skeletal impact of GD and to guide evidence-based bone health management.

Indexed as

Bone DensityGraves DiseaseBiological Specimen BanksCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedUK BiobankUnited Kingdombone mineral densitycalciumGraves’ diseasemeta-analysisUK Biobank

Identifiers

PMID42698428
PMCPMC13541481

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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.