Bone Mass Density in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis Influence of disease activity

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can affect bone density. Given the significant risk of low bone mass density (BMD) in RA patients, the present study aims to investigate the BMD in these patients. The present cross-sectional study included ۴۱۵ RA patients from the Rafsanjan Rheumatology Clinic. The patients were included in the study by census based on the inclusion criteria, which included a physician's diagnosis of RA according to the American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) criteria, at least three months of disease history, and age between of ۳۵ and ۷۰ years. The BMD was measured using the dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry method in both the hip and the spine, and the RA severity was determined using the disease activity score-۲۸ (DAS-۲۸) index. The mean age of RA patients was ۵۶.۴۹ ± ۱۱.۷۳ years, with females accounting for ۸۶.۷% (۳۰۰ people). The frequency of osteoporosis was ۷.۵% (۲۶ people), and osteopenia was ۴۳.۶% (۱۵۱ people) based on hip bone density, and ۳۳% (۱۳۷ people) and ۳۸.۱% (۱۵۸ people) based on spine density, respectively. Age, fracture history, and DAS-۲۸ score increased the probability of developing osteopenia or osteoporosis based on hip and spine bone density. According to the findings of a study in RA patients, increasing age, history of bone fracture, and DAS-۲۸ score increase the probability of osteopenia or osteoporosis. Therefore, it is advised to pay close attention to the mentioned factors to prevent complications in these patients.

Keywords:

Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry , Bone Density , osteopenia , Osteoporosis , Rheumatoid arthritis