Inflammatory bowel disease and the risk of fracture

Although patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have reduced bone mass, there is controversy whether there is an increased risk of fracture. This study examines the risk of fracture and its predictors in patients with IBD.

In a primary care- based nested case-control study, 231,778 fracture cases and 231,778 age- and sex-matched controls were recruited. A history of IBD was assessed from medical records.

The prevalence of IBD was 156 and 282 per 100,000 for Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), respectively. Patients with IBD had an increased risk of vertebral fracture (odds ratio [OR], 1.72; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13-2.61) and hip fracture (OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.14-2.23). The risk of hip fracture was greater in patients with CD (OR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.08-3.21) compared with UC (OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 0.92-2.13). Disease severity, assessed by the number of symptoms, predicted fracture even after adjusting for corticosteroid use (OR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.04-2.04). Only 13% of patients with IBD who had already sustained a fracture were on any form of antifracture treatment.

Patients with IBD have a higher risk of fracture due to both disease activity and use of oral corticosteroids. However, few of these patients are receiving optimal bone-sparing therapy, highlighting the importance of increasing awareness of osteoporosis in those managing these patients.