Prevalence of Vertebral Compression Fracture Among Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients in Sulaymaniyah

Background: The risk of fractured vertebral increases in patients with rheumatoid arthritis as they are more likely to suffer from osteopenia, and osteoporosis.Objectives: This study aimed to investigating the rate and risk factors of vertebral fractures in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.Methods: We recruited ۲۰۱ patients aged between ۳۰ and ۷۰ who attended the rheumatology department at Shahid Hemn Teaching Hospital in Sulaymaniyah, between January and September ۲۰۲۲. Medical records were reviewed for disease and treatment characteristics while also clinically evaluated by a rheumatologist. Spinal radiographs were assessed by two experienced radiologists blinded to patients’ clinical diagnosis and status. Compression fractures were classified by using the Genant semiquantitative method, and the type of fracture was classified as wedged fracture, biconcave fracture, or crushed fracture.Results: Of the ۲۰۱ included participants, ۱۵۱ were female, and ۵۰ were male. The BMI of women was higher than men by nearly four points (P<۰.۰۰۱). Most women were also illiterate (۶۸/۱۵۱, ۴۵.۰%) and unemployed (۱۳۹/۱۵۱, ۹۲.۱%). Hypertension (۲۸.۴%) and diabetes mellitus (۱۴.۴%) were the most reported comorbidities. Women were more likely to have higher DAS۲۸ scores while men had more vertebral fractures (P=۰.۰۰۳). The probability of fractures increased with age, male sex, and illiteracy compared to primary school, osteopenia, and osteoporosis through simple and multiple logistic regression models.Conclusion: With at least one fracture affects females and males at a rate of ۲۷.۸% and ۵۲.۰%, respectively. Also reported that age, male sex, illiteracy, osteopenia, and osteoporosis significantly increase the risk of fractures.

Keywords:

Rheumatoid arthritis , risk factors , Osteoporosis