[Osteoporosis in rheumatology-Diagnostics, risk assessment and modern treatment strategies]

Inflammatory rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) lead to local periarticular demineralization through localized arthritis in one or more joints; however, the autoimmune-mediated systemic inflammatory process is also a driver of systemic bone loss, osteoporosis, which leads to an increased risk of fractures. The Umbrella Organization Osteology (DVO) guidelines 2023 recommend a risk-adapted approach involving systematic fracture risk assessment, early baseline diagnostics and consistent specific osteoporosis treatment, including antiresorptive and osteoanabolic strategies. For rheumatology practice this means firmly integrating osteological assessment, including fracture risk management as well as pharmacological and nonpharmacological osteological treatment into the structured care of patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases.