Fluoroquinolones and the risk of tendon injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Alves C, Mendes D, Marques FB · European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology

Pooled odds: any tendon disorder OR 1.98 (95% CI 1.62–2.43), Achilles tendinitis OR 3.95 (3.11–5.01), Achilles rupture OR 2.52 (1.81–3.52) — a consistent class-wide tendon-harm signal.

Population

15 observational studies of fluoroquinolone users

Intervention

Fluoroquinolone exposure

Comparator

Non-exposure

Limitations

All included studies observational; heterogeneity across databases; cannot fully exclude confounding by infection severity or comorbidity.