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

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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.

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Correspondence to Ilan Matok.

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Conflict of interest

Einat Gorelik, Reem Masarwa, Amichai Perlman, Victoria Rotshild, Momen Abbasi, Mordechai Muszkat, and Ilan Matok have no conflicts of interest that are directly relevant to the content of this study.

Funding

No sources of funding were used to assist in the preparation of this study.

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Gorelik, E., Masarwa, R., Perlman, A. et al. Fluoroquinolones and Cardiovascular Risk: A Systematic Review, Meta-analysis and Network Meta-analysis. Drug Saf 42, 529–538 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40264-018-0751-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40264-018-0751-2

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