Researchers examined the cancer risk and mortality rate among patients who underwent lumbar arthrodesis with bone morphogenetic proteins, in a study published in The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
The study involved 7,278 patients from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Medicare database. All patients were at least 65 years old and underwent lumbar arthrodesis between 2004 and 2011.
Of the 7,278 patients, 3,627 patients were in a 5 percent random subcohort of Medicare beneficiaries in SEER areas. Of the SEER-Medicare subcohort patients, 30.7 percent received BMP.
Here are five observations:
1. Of the SEER-Medicare subcohort patients, 191 developed cancer. Of the patients outside of the subcohort, 3,651 developed cancer.
2. Researchers did not discover an association between BMP use and cancer risk "in univariate analyses or after adjustment for demographic characteristics, comorbidities, hospital size, history of cancer and calendar year," according to the study.
3. BMP patients did not experience more cases of specific cancer types compared to non-users.
4. BMP was not connected to new cancer development in patients with cancer prior to undergoing lumbar arthrodesis. Additionally, BMP was not associated with mortality following a cancer diagnosis.
5. Researchers concluded BMP use did not increase cancer risk or impact mortality in elderly adults undergoing lumbar arthrodesis.