Background:Chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases are risk factors of bone loss and fractures. Systemic sclerosis (SSc) has been recognized to be another potential inflammatory joint disease that may affect bone tissue.Objectives:to evaluate bone mineral density (BMD) and risk factors of low BMD in women with SSc.Methods:173 women, among them 110 postmenopausal (median age 60[55,63] years) and 63 premenopausal (median age 35[31,44] years). BMD was measured at lumbar spine (LS), femoral neck (FN) and total hip (TH) by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA, Hologic 4500A). Low BMD was diagnosed if the T-score was < -1.0 standard deviation (SD) in postmenopausal women and if the Z-score was < -2.0 SD in premenopausal women. The relationship between BMD and SSc patients’ characteristics was evaluated using univariate linear regression analysis.Results:Low BMD was found in 66% patients: 79% - in postmenopausal and 18% - in premenopausal women. Among postmenopausal persons osteoporosis was discovered in 47% and osteopenia – in 32% cases. In postmenopausal woman BMD of LS, FN and TH were associated with body mass index (BMI) (β=0.27, p=0.010; β=0.47, p<0,001 and β=0.45, p<0,001, respectively), duration of glucocorticoids (GCs) using (β=-0.31, p=0.008; β=-0.34, p=0.003 and β=-0.27, p=0.022, respectively); BMD of FN and TH with C-reactive protein (β= -0.32, p=0.016 and β= -0.29, p=0.029, respectively) and LS BMD with current and cumulative GCs dose (β= -0.24, p=0.039 and β= -0.29, p=0.014, respectively). In premenopausal women BMD of LS, FN and TH were associated with BMI (β=0.51, p<0,001; β=0.45, p=0.003 and β=0.47, p=0.002, respectively), duration of GCs using (β= -0.45, p=0.004; β= -0.47, p=0.003 and β= -0.48, p=0.002, respectively) and GCs cumulative dose (β= -0.48, p=0.002; β= -0.51, p=0.001 and β= -0.46, p=0.004, respectively); BMD of FN and TH with 25(ОН)D level (β=0.52, p=0.008 and β=0.54, p=0.005, respectively), and LS BMD with SSc duration (β= -0.44, p=0.004).Conclusion:Low BMD was diagnosed in 66% of women with SSc. Low BMI, GCs cumulative dose and duration of GCs using were independent risk factors for low BMD in both premenopausal and postmenopausal persons. Additional factors as SSc duration and low vitamin D level were found out for premenopausal and current GCs dose and C-reactive protein level for postmenopausal women.Disclosure of Interests:None declared
Relationship between fall risk factors, bone mineral density and fragility fractures in postmenopausal women