Increased incidence of hip fracture seen in patients with RA

A higher incidence of hip fracture was seen in patients with rheumatoid arthritis compared to patients with osteoarthritis and may suggest subchondral bone alterations, according to a recently published study.

Researchers identified 741,589 patients over age 45 years from the Skåne Healthcare Register (SHR) located in the southern part of Sweden between 1998 and 2012 and patients were followed until a hip fracture, death or exit from the region occurred. Mean age was 57.7 years and 52% were women. Diagnostic codes were used to identify 8,467 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 29,706 patients with hip osteoarthritis (OA) and 55,753 with knee OA at risk for hip fracture.

Compared to the general population, the rate of hip fracture was significantly higher in both women (standard fracture rate [SFR)] 1.54) and men (SFR 1.81) with RA and lower in patients with hip OA (SFR 0.61). The rate of trochanteric hip fracture was higher than cervical hip fracture in patients with hip OA. The rate of hip fracture was lower in women with knee OA compared to the general population, but was similar between men with knee OA and the general population.

An elevated rate of distal radius fracture was seen in both men and women with knee OA, while no other statistically significant association was seen between patients with OA and RA. – by Shirley Pulawski

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.

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Source:

Yamamoto Y, et al. J Rheumatol. 2015;DOI:10.3899/jrheum.150325.