Rheumatoid arthritis in tight disease control is no longer risk of bone mineral density loss

OBJECTIVES: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an independent risk factor of osteoporosis. However, if disease activity is successfully controlled using the treat-to-target (T2T) strategy, the risk of bone mineral density (BMD) loss can be diminished. We evaluated if RA is a risk factor even when the T2T is applied in clinical cases. METHODS: From September 2017 to August 2019, 741 patients were examined using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry; of these, 279 were diagnosed with RA who attained clinical remission within 6 months (RA-rem) and 53 could not attain clinical remission (RA-nonrem), while 409 were not diagnosed with RA (non-RA). The following characteristics between RA-rem and non-RA were matched using the propensity score matching (PSM) technique: age, sex, past bone fragility fracture experience, osteoporosis drug intervention ratio, glucocorticoid administration ratio, mean dose, Barthel Index score, body mass index, serum-creatinine-to-cystatin C ratio, and the number of comorbidities. The BMDs and changes of the lumbar spine, femoral neck, total hip, and greater trochanter were statistically compared between the RA-rem and the non-RA after PSM, and between RA-nonrem and RA-rem after PSM using the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: In total, 107 patients of RA-rem and 108 of non-RA were recruited. BMDs and changes of every part demonstrated no significant differences between the 2 groups. BMDs in every part of RA-rem after PSM were significantly greater than those in every part of RA-nonrem, while no significant difference in change during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: If disease activity is controlled in clinical remission, RA will not contribute to BMD reduction.