Epidemiology and Risk Factors of Osteoporosis and Fracture in Korean Women with Arthritis

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to investigate the epidemiology and risk factors of osteoporosis and fracture in Korean women with arthritis. The study subjects were 1,416 women with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis who participated in the 2008 Community Health Survey in Chungcheong Province, South Korea. The results showed that 27.3% of women with arthritis had osteoporosis and 26.1% had relevant fracture. Proportions of subjects had osteoporosis or fracture were not significantly differed between OA and RA. Current arthritis treatment, age, body mass index, and activities of daily living were significantly associated with osteoporosis occurrence in osteoarthritis subjects, but only body mass index and the activities of daily living were significantly associated with osteoporosis occurrence in rheumatoid arthritis subjects. The presence of osteoporosis, body mass index, and activities of daily living were found to be common risk factors of fracture in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis patients.