In a nutshell
This study investigated if there is a link between frailty and fracture (breaking of a bone) risk in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
They found that patients with higher frailty were more likely to have bone fractures.
Some background
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic immune condition. It is caused by painful swelling in the joints. This can cause significant disability over time. Patients with RA also have a higher risk of osteoporosis (OP). OP occurs when the bone looses density and becomes weaker. This can lead to fractures or breaks.
There are several factors that lead to OP in RA patients. Inflammation can lead to RA. Some RA drugs can also lead to bone loss over time. Patients with OP may become frail over time. Frailty is an increased vulnerability to adverse health events. Frailty can be measured and used to predict if a person is at risk of bone fractures. It is unclear if frailty is linked to an increased risk of bone fractures in patients with RA.
Methods & findings
This study included 2,923 patients with RA. Patient information was obtained from a database. This included data on disease activity, medication use, and functional outcomes. The authors analyzed the data to determine the frailty index (FI) and fracture risk (FR). The average follow-up time was 3.7 years.
Women were more likely to have a bone fracture. Other factors linked to an increased FR was older age, medication for OP and longer duration of RA. The FI was significantly higher in patients that experienced a fracture. Higher FI was associated with a higher risk of hospitalization for bone fractures.
The bottom line
The authors concluded that patients with higher frailty were more likely to have bone fractures.
The fine print
This was a retrospective study meaning it looked back at medical records. Some important patient information was not available in the database. This included images from bone density scans. This is important data when evaluating fracture risk. More investigation is needed.
What’s next?
If you have any concerns regarding RA please consult with your physician.
Published By :
Bone
Date :
Jun 08, 2019
