Epidemiology of osteoporosis in rheumatic diseases

Osteoporosis and related fragility fractures represent one of the most common complications that occurs in patients who have rheumatic diseases, and contributes to a dramatic decrease in quality of life. Bone is affected negatively by the disease process and often by the therapy itself in different rheumatic conditions, notably rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and the relationship between osteoporosis and osteoarthritis is a matter of concern. The clinical relevance of osteoporosis in rheumatic diseases is underestimated. Recent data demonstrated that patients who had RA and took oral corticosteroids did not undergo bone densitometry routinely. This article focuses on the burden of osteoporosis and fragility fractures in different rheumatic conditions, and emphasizes the importance of this complication for which effective preventive measures are available.