Malochet–Guinamand S et al. – This study determined the prevalence and risk factors of low bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) and the prevalence of vertebral fractures. In this study, about 50% prevalence of low BMD in SpA was reported. However, prevalence of osteoporosis (6.7%) and vertebral fractures (6.2%) was lower than reported in the literature.

Methods

• BMD measurements were done with dual–energy X–ray absorption in the anterior–posterior lumbar spine, lateral spine, and hip. Using vertebral fracture assessment (VFA), syndesmophytes were checked.

Results

• Out of 89 patients included in the study, 48.3% had osteopenia and 6.7% had osteoporosis as per the World Health Organization criteria.
• In a subgroup of patients who underwent all measurements, the prevalence of osteopenia was 39.3% in anterior–posterior spine, 32.1% in lateral spine, and 64.3% in all other sites.
• On VFA, 6.2% of patients had at least one vertebral fracture and 24.3% had syndesmophytes.
• Low body mass index (BMI), a high physician’s global assessment score, a high Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) score, and female gender were associated with low BMD as seen in multivariate analyses.