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Evaluating the Value-Added of the Trabecular Bone Score in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Samaneh Tavassoli1, Alireza Rajaei2, Mohammad Mehdi Emam2
1Department of Internal Medicine, Sayyad Shirazi Hospital, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
Background:
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) presents with inflammation in the joints and bony tissues around them. The trabecular bone score (TBS) is a relatively new indicator that predicts fracture risk better than bone mineral density (BMD). The aim of the current study was to measure TBSs and BMD of patients with RA referring to Resalat Hospital, Tehran.
Methods:
In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 129 men and women with RA entered the study through convenient sampling during 2016. TBS and BMD were measured in L1-L4. The relationships between age, sex, body mass index (BMI), duration of disease, and daily corticosteroids dose with TBS and BMD were determined by chi-square test, independent samples t test, Pearson correlation, and linear and logistic regression.
Results:
The TBS of 34.9%, 31.8%, and 33.3% of study subjects were higher than 1.35, 1.25-1.35, and lower than 1.25, respectively. The prevalence of TBS lower than 1.25 was 48.7% in women aged age more than 50 years. Age was the only predictor of low TBS in patients with RA. TBS and BMD were positively correlated in vertebral and hip bones. In women older than 50 years, BMI (-1.292) and age (-1.330) were predictors of low TBS.
Conclusion:
One-third of patients with RA were at risk of fracture. Gender and BMI were two factors which affected the TBS. This index can show the effect of disease on bones, which is related to age.
