Fluoroquinolones and Cardiovascular Risk: A Systematic Review, Meta-analysis and Network Meta-analysis

Einat Gorelik, Reem Masarwa, Amichai Perlman, Victoria Rotshild, Momen Abbasi, Mordechai Muszkat, Ilan Matok*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

86 Scopus citations

Abstract

Introduction: Several fluoroquinolone antibiotics have been associated with cardiac adverse effects, leading to the withdrawal of some of these agents from the market. Cardiac side effects such as QT prolongation and torsades de pointes (TdP) have also been observed with fluoroquinolones currently on the market. In order to evaluate the cardiac risk of fluoroquinolones as a class, and the comparative risk for each individual drug, we conducted a systematic review, meta-analysis, and network meta-analysis. Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library were searched, up to March 2018, for randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and case–control studies that investigated the association between fluoroquinolone treatment and the risk of cardiovascular events and cardiovascular mortality. We followed the PRISMA 2009 guidelines for data selection and extraction. Outcomes were pooled using random effects models. Direct and indirect comparisons in network meta-analysis were performed using frequentist methods. Results: Thirteen studies were included in our analyses. Fluoroquinolone use was associated with a statistically significant 85% increase in the risk for arrhythmia (odds ratio [OR] 1.85; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.22–2.81) and 71% increase in the risk for cardiovascular mortality (OR 1.71; 95% CI 1.39–2.09). Moxifloxacin ranked most likely to have the highest risk for arrhythmia (P-score 0.99) and for cardiovascular mortality (P-score 0.95) by network meta-analysis. Conclusions: Our findings show a significant association between fluoroquinolone use and an increased risk for arrhythmia and cardiovascular mortality. Moxifloxacin ranked with the highest probability for cardiovascular adverse events. Further study is required to determine how to reduce the risk for fluoroquinolone-associated cardiac toxicity.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)529-538
Number of pages10
JournalDrug Safety
Volume42
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 5 Apr 2019

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© 2018, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

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