Comparison of Bone Mineral Density and Risk Factors of Osteoporosis between Normal and Rheumatoid Arthritis in Postmenopausal women

폐경 후 정상여성과 폐경 후 류마티스 관절염환자의 골밀도 및 골다공증 위험요인 비교

This study was carried out to compare the bone mineral density and risk factors of osteoporosis between normal and rheumatoid arthritis in postmenopausal women. Sixty-eight postmenopausal patients with rheumatoid arthritis(RA) were compared with 124 postmenopausal normal women. Data were collected from october, 1998 to April, 1999 at Dong-a university hospital in Pusan. From all subjects, individual characteristics such as age, body weight, height, age of menarche, duration of menopause, gravity, parity, and breast feeding period and factors of life style such as milk consumption, exercise, alcohol intake, cigarette smoking, coffee consumption were identified as influencing factors of osteoporosis by questionnaire. From RA patients, health assessment score, Ritchie articular index, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein and steroid dosage were measured by rheumatologist on measuring bone mineral density. Bone mineral density was measured at the Lumbar spine, femoral neck, femur Ward's triangle, and femur trochanter using dual x-ray absorptiometry. The data was analyzed by using a frequency, t-test, Chi-square, ANCOVA with SPSS PC program. The results could be summarized as follows : 1) There was a significant difference in age and breast feeding period between RA patients and normal women. 2) RA patients took less calcium in the past and practiced less regular exercise in past and present than normal women. 3) There was no difference in lumbar bone mineral density between RA patients and normal women. 4) There was a significant difference in femur Ward's triangle and femur trochanter between RA patients and normal women after adjustment for age and breast feeding period. 5) The prevalence of osteoporosis of all subjects was the highest in femur Ward's triangle. In summary, our findings suggest that the bone mineral densities of femur Ward's triangle and trochanter in postmenopausal women with RA is significantly lower than normal women. Also the exercise participation rate of postmenopausal women with RA is lower than normal women. For the further study, we recommend to develop exercise program that improve the bone mineral density in femur Ward's triangle and trochanter and to test the effect of that exercise program.