Frequency of low bone mineral density in spondyloarthropathy presenting at a tertiary care hospital

Objective: to determine the frequency and risk factors of low bone mineral density in patients with spondyloarthropathies. methods: the cross-sectional study was conducted at the rheumatology department of a tertiary care hospital in karachi between june and november 2014,and comprised spondyloarthritis patients whose bone mineral density of lumbar spine and hips was measured using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry scan. variables like disease duration,diagnosis,human leukocyte antigen subtype b27,erythrocyte sedimentation rate,c-reactive protein,bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index,bath ankylosing spondylitis functional index,bath ankylosing spondylitis metrology index were measured along with outcomes,differentiating between osteopenia and/or osteoporosis. spss 21 was used for statistical analysis results: of the 25 patients in the study,16(64%) were males,19(76%) had predominant axial involvement,and 20(80%) had duration of disease less than 10 years. low bone mineral density at the spine and hip was found in 18(72%). osteopenia was present in 9(36%) at hip and 8(32%)in spine,while osteoporosis was seen in 5(20%) at hip and 9(36%) in the spine. no significant association was found between bone mineral density and all the other parameters measured (p>0.05 each). conclusion:majority of spondyloarthritis patients had decreased bonemineral density which could be observed in early stages of the disease. © 2015,pakistan medical association. all rights reserved.