FRAX-ASSISTED PREDICTION OF FRACTURES IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Aim. To determine an absolute risk of fractures in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with the FRAX procedure (fracture risk assessment tool) for choice of further prophylactic, therapeutic and rehabilitative measures. Material and methods. The trial included 611 RA females over 49 years of age of 834 RA patients from 2004 data base RA entrees. All the patients were assessed for fracture risk with FRAX basing on clinical data without densitometry. Distribution into fracture risk groups was made by a graphic age-risk scheme. Results. High or moderate fracture risk was registered in 58.6 % RA examinees. These patients were older than those with a low fracture risk, they had lower body mass index, longer menopause, higher disease activity, more often had extra-articular manifestations of the disease. Therefore, duration of their glucocorticosteroid treatment was longer. Patients with high and moderate fracture risks more frequently had functional insufficiency of the third degree, fractures of skeletal bones in the past. Conclusion. The FRAX method for assessment of an absolute fracture risk in RA patients detects subjects with elevated risk of fractures. This facilitates timely and qualitative administration of medical care, lowers costs of examination, improves treatment and rehabilitation of patients with osteoporosis and its complications.