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Multicenter Study
. 2011 Sep;22(9):2413-9.
doi: 10.1007/s00198-010-1517-6. Epub 2011 Jan 13.

High incidence of vertebral and non-vertebral fractures in the OSTRA cohort study: a 5-year follow-up study in postmenopausal women with rheumatoid arthritis

M Vis  1 , E A Haavardsholm, P Bøyesen, G Haugeberg, T Uhlig, M Hoff, A Woolf, B Dijkmans, W Lems, T K Kvien
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

High incidence of vertebral and non-vertebral fractures in the OSTRA cohort study: a 5-year follow-up study in postmenopausal women with rheumatoid arthritis

M Vis et al. Osteoporos Int. 2011 Sep.

Abstract

A 5-year follow-up study was performed in female RA patients with established disease looking at vertebral fractures, scored on spinal X-rays, and non-vertebral fractures. We found a high incidence rate of vertebral and non-vertebral fractures in these patients compared to population-based studies.

Introduction: The aim of this study is to investigate the incidence of vertebral and non-vertebral fractures over a 5-year period in a cohort of postmenopausal patients with established rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: One hundred and fifty female patients with established RA were included into the OSTRA cohort. The cohort was assessed at baseline and at 5 years for incident vertebral and non-vertebral fractures. Spinal X-rays were taken at baseline and at follow-up and scored using the semi-quantitative method according to Genant.

Results: At 5 years, 102 patients (68%) were examined and included in the present analysis. At baseline, the mean age was 61 years, disease duration 17 years, body mass index 25.5 kg/m(2) and 65% of the patients were rheumatoid factor positive. Fifteen percent were treated with bisphosphonates, 25% received calcium supplementation and 20% vitamin-D supplementation at baseline. During the 5-year follow-up, a total of 16 patients out of 102 patients (16%) had a new non-vertebral fracture [annual incidence of 3.2 (95% CI 1.8-5.5) per 100 patients/year]. In 18 patients out of 97 patients (19%), new vertebral fractures were identified on spinal X-ray [annual incidence of 3.7 (95% C.I. 2.2-5.8) per 100 patients/year].

Conclusions: We found a high incidence of vertebral and non-vertebral fractures in a cohort of women with established RA compared to population-based studies.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Distribution of new vertebral fractures
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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