Table 7

 Sensitivity analyses by definition of length of use of bisphosphonates (short term (≤1 year) and long term (>1 year)) and varying definitions of use

Term of useQResearchCPRD
Exposed casesAdjusted* odds ratio (95% CI)P valueExposed casesAdjusted* odds ratio (95% CI)P value
Oesophageal cancer
Use defined as at least 2 prescriptions in observation period
≤1 year741.03 (0.77 to 1.36)0.9650.88 (0.65 to 1.18)0.4
>1 year1580.92 (0.73 to 1.16)0.51731.23 (0.98 to 1.54)0.07
Use defined as at least 1 prescription before index date
≤1 year1111.23 (0.96 to 1.56)0.11031.17 (0.91 to 1.50)0.2
>1 year1710.94 (0.75 to 1.18)0.61821.23 (0.99 to 1.53)0.06
Use defined as at least 1 prescription between 72 and 6 months before index date in patients with at least 6 years of records
≤1 year750.99 (0.74 to 1.32)0.9781.09 (0.81 to 1.45)0.6
>1 year1420.93 (0.73 to 1.18)0.51451.26 (0.98 to 1.60)0.07
Gastric cancer
Use defined as at least 2 prescriptions in observation period
≤1 year531.49 (1.04 to 2.13)0.03500.75 (0.53 to 1.06)0.1
>1 year790.97 (0.71 to 1.31)0.8790.73 (0.55 to 0.99)0.04
Use defined as at least 1 prescription before the index date
≤1 year611.17 (0.84 to 1.62)0.3701.02 (0.76 to 1.38)0.9
>1 year880.93 (0.69 to 1.25)0.6900.82 (0.61 to 1.08)0.2
Use defined as at least 1 prescription between 72 and 6 months before index date in patients with at least 6 years of records
≤1 year541.21 (0.84 to 1.75)0.3520.85 (0.60 to 1.21)0.4
>1 year660.90 (0.64 to 1.26)0.5650.72 (0.52 to 0.99)0.04
Colorectal cancer
Use defined as at least 2 prescriptions in observation period
≤1 year2731.02 (0.88 to 1.18)0.82911.09 (0.94 to 1.25)0.3
>1 year5841.04 (0.92 to 1.16)0.55441.04 (0.92 to 1.16)0.6
Use defined as at least 1 prescription before index date
≤1 year3841.04 (0.92 to 1.18)0.53861.12 (0.99 to 1.27)0.07
>1 year6331.02 (0.91 to 1.14)0.75891.06 (0.94 to 1.18)0.4
Use defined as at least 1 prescription between 72 and 6 months before index date in patients with at least 6 years of records
≤1 year2981.02 (0.88 to 1.18)0.82851.13 (0.97 to 1.30)0.1
>1 year4921.00 (0.88 to 1.13)1.04761.08 (0.96 to 1.23)0.2

*Adjusted for BMI, smoking status, alcohol consumption, ethnicity, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis and fractures, use of other osteoporosis drugs, vitamin D, NSAIDs, corticosteroids, acid lowering drugs, and years of data and for family history of colorectal cancer, diabetes, colitis, and Crohn’s disease.