Incidence of osteoporosis and the risk of fracture in patients with rheumatoid arthritis undergoing corticosteroid treatment

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most widespread inflammatory rheumatic disease with about 10% of all rheumatic diseases and a global prevalence of about 1%. Through its features - joint proliferation, articular panic, articular cartilage degradation and bone erosion - RA has a destructive and disabling character and a major socio-economic impact. Osteoporosis is a bone system disease characterized by loss of bone mass and alteration of bone architecture, with consequences on bone fragility correlated with an increased fracture risk. With a major socio-economic impact, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared osteoporosis as a public health problem, third on cardiovascular and oncological.