Background:Although poorly understood, patients with Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) seem to have higher prevalence of low bone mineral density (BMD) and an increased spine fracture risk.Objectives:We aim to determine, by conventional densitometry (DXA) and using the fracture risk assessment tool (FRAX), the prevalence of low BMD and the fracture risk, respectively, in our SSc cohort and its potential determinants.Methods:Observational transversal study was performed including consecutive patients with the diagnosis of SSc. We collected data regarding demographics, BMD (lumbar spine and femoral neck) and occurrence of fracture. Ten-year risk of osteoporotic fracture was estimated using FRAXv4.1with the Portuguese population reference. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 23.0; p<0.01 was considered statistically significant.Results:Median age of patients (n=97) was 62 years old [56, 70], 88.7% females (n=86). Seventy-eight patients (80.4%) had limited cutaneous form, 5 (5.2%) presented a diffuse cutaneous form and 13 (13.4%) an overlap syndrome. Regarding clinical features: digital ulcers in 30 patients (30.9%), interstitial lung disease (ILD) in 16 (6.5%), gastrointestinal involvement in 16 (16.5%), miositis in 4 (4.1%) and pulmonary arterial hypertension in 3 (3.1%). Anti-topoisomerase I antibody (anti-Scl70) positivity was present in 15 patients (15.5%) and anti-centromere antibody (ACA) positivity in 63 (64.9%). Nine patients (9.3%) were smokers and 6 (6.2%) reported an alcohol consumption of 3 or more units/day. Median body mass index (BMI) was 25.4 Kg/m2[21.4, 29.1], with 5 patients (5.2%) being underweight. Vitamin D insufficiency was reported in 19 patients (19.6%). Twenty-one patients (21.6%) have been exposed to oral glucocorticoids (GCT) for more than 3 months at a dose of 5mg daily or more. Eleven patients (11.3%) had previous low impact fractures: 10 of which were vertebral and 1 wrist fracture. Regarding the prescribed anti-osteoporotic treatment (AOP), we found: alendronate (n=7, 7.2%), zoledronic acid (n=7, 7.2%), denosumab (n=2, 2.1%) and teriparatide (n=1, 1%).Low BMD was present in 45 patients (46.4%); median femoral neck BMD (FN-BMD) was 0.827 [0.709, 0.893].Ten year probability of fracture (%) was: median risk for major fracture was 5.1 [3.5, 9.7] and 3.8 [2.5, 8], with and without FN-BMD, respectively; for hip fracture the estimated risk was 1.2 [0.6, 3.1] and 1.0 [0.4, 2.5], with and without FN-BMD, respectively. According to FRAX thresholds for the Portuguese population, 25 patients (25.8%) met criteria to start AOP treatment. Among them, only 10 patients (40%) started it, as the agreement between the indication to treat by FRAX and the onset of treatment was weak (k= 0.338). A strong agreement was found between FRAX risk threshold with DXA and World Health Organization (WHO) threshold for starting AOP (k= 0.814) and no agreement was found between FRAX risk without DXA and WHO threshold.FN-BMD presented a weak correlation with BMI (r = 0.393), a moderate inverse correlation with major fracture risk with and without FN-BMD (r = -0.704, r=-0.412, respectively) and with hip fracture risk with and without FN-BMD (r = -0.799, r=-0.412, respectively). Major fracture risk with and without FN-BMD presented a moderate correlation with spine fractures (r = 0.350; r=0.397, respectively).No correlation was found between WHO threshold and spine fractures. No correlations were found between FN-BMD or fracture risk estimated by FRAX and disease manifestations, anti-Scl70 or ACA positivity, vitamin D insufficiency, smoking or GCT use.Conclusion:In our cohort, low BMD was prevalent and had correlation with BMI. FRAX appears to be an useful instrument as it correlated with spine fractures, contrary to what was verified when we used the WHO threshold. Early monitoring of BMD and estimating fracture risk using FRAX appear to be useful tools for the prevention of fractures in this population.Disclosure of Interests:Salomé Garcia: None declared, Bruno Miguel Fernandes: None declared, Sara Ganhão: None declared, Maria Rato: None declared, Filipe Pinheiro: None declared, Georgina Terroso: None declared, Miguel Bernardes Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Amgen, Biogen, Eli-Lilly, Glaxo-Smith-Kline, Pfizer, Janssen, Novartis, Lúcia Costa: None declared
Post-hip fracture use of prescribed calcium plus vitamin D or vitamin D supplements and antiosteoporotic drugs is associated with lower mortality: A nationwide study in Finland