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Ann Rheum Dis 2009;68:1839-1842 doi:10.1136/ard.2008.100503
  • Clinical and epidemiological research
  • Extended report

Ankylosing spondylitis and the risk of fracture: results from a large primary care-based nested case-control study

  1. D Vosse1,
  2. R Landewé1,
  3. D van der Heijde1,
  4. S van der Linden1,
  5. T-P van Staa3,4,
  6. P Geusens1,2
  1. 1
    Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University Hospital Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands
  2. 2
    Department of Rheumatology, Limburg University Centre, Diepenbeek, Belgium
  3. 3
    Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
  4. 4
    Medical Research Council Epidemiology Resource Centre and Centre for Developmental Origins of Health and Adult Disease, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
  1. Correspondence to Dr D Vosse, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University Hospital Maastricht, P O Box 5800, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands; d.vosse{at}mumc.nl
  • Accepted 23 November 2008

Abstract

Background and aims: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is associated with bone loss in the vertebrae and an increased prevalence of vertebral fractures, but literature about the magnitude of the risk of fracturing is limited. One retrospective cohort study provided evidence of an increased risk of clinical vertebral fractures but not of non-vertebral fractures. This study further explores the risk of clinical vertebral and non-vertebral fractures in a large population database.

Methods: In a primary care-based nested case-control study, 231 778 patients with fracture and 231 778 age- and sex-matched controls were recruited. A history of AS was assessed from the medical records. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated after adjustment for medication, other illnesses, smoking and body mass index when known.

Results: AS was diagnosed in 758 subjects. The prevalence of AS was 0.18% in patients with fracture and 0.15% in controls. Patients with AS had an increased risk of clinical vertebral fracture (OR 3.26; 95% CI 1.51 to 7.02). The risk of fractures of the forearm and hip was not significantly increased (OR 1.21; 95% CI 0.87 to 1.69 and OR 0.77; 95% CI 0.43 to 1.37, respectively). The risk of any clinical fracture was increased in patients with AS with a history of inflammatory bowel disease (OR 2.79; 95% CI 1.10 to 7.08), whereas it was decreased in patients with AS taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (OR 0.65; 95% CI 0.50 to 0.84). The risk was not associated with recent back pain, psoriasis, joint replacement therapy and use of sulfasalazine.

Conclusions: Patients with AS have an increased risk of clinical vertebral fracture but not of non-vertebral fractures, while the risk of any clinical fracture is increased in patients with concomitant inflammatory bowel disease. The mechanism by which non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs reduce the risk of any clinical fracture warrants further research.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests None.

Responses to this article

  • Some notes about ankylosing spondylitis and the risk of fracture.
    • Vera Peterova,
    • Forejtova S, Department of Rheumatology, Charles University in Prague, First faculty of Medicine, Praha 2, Czech rep.
    Ann Rheum Dis published online March 2, 2009

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