Bone mineral density and fracture risk in patients with rheumatic diseases

Abstract

Introduction: Decrease in bone mineral density (BMD) and risk of fractures in rheumatic diseases (RD) is caused by the pathogenetic mechanisms underlying RD and the effects of drugs used to treat them on bone. Aim of the study: to assess the condition of BMD, frequency and risk of fractures in postmenopausal women with different RD. Material and methods: The study enrolled 260 women in postmenopause (median age 61 years) (54; 68 year) with systemic scleroderma (SS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA). Patients were sanitized and examined using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry; a 10-year risk of fractures was calculated using the FRAX® algorithm. Results: A reduced BMD was observed in 210 (81%) women with RD, while osteoporosis (OP) was found in 43% of women with SS, 31% of women with RA and 17% of women with OA. In all RD, osteoporosis was more common in the lumbar spine than in the proximal femur. The frequency of low-energy fractures in the anamnesis was 35, 29 and 20 percent for those with SS, RA and OA, respectively. The most frequent fractures among women with SS and RA were vertebral fractures, and in patients with OA-forearm fractures. The 10-year risk of new fractures according to FRAX® and the need for antiosteoporotic treatment in women with OA was less than in patients with SS and RA (p < 0.0001). Of all patients examined, 44% needed pathogenetic antiosteoporotic therapy, and in actual practice 25% of women received it. Patients with RA were most often treated with zoledronic acid, alendronate and parenteral form of ibandronate. Conclusions: The frequency of OPs and the 10-year risk of fractures in autoimmune RD was significantly higher than in OA. The structure of low-energy fractures in RD is different: in autoimmune processes and glucocorticoids (GC) intake, spinal compression fractures were significantly more common. Pathogenetic treatment for OP in women in post-menopause with RD is not performed frequently enough, which may cause repeated low-energy fractures.