title: Height loss rate as a marker of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: The relation between the loss of height and bone mineral density (BMD) at the lumbar spine and proximal femur was determined in 61 women aged 56-70 years suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. Statistically highly significant negative correlations were found between the loss of height and the spinal and femoral BMD. A loss of 4 cm or more in height over 10 years seems to be associated with a significant decrease of BMD, and it can be recommended as a clinical marker of osteoporosis.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatism Foundation Hospital, Heinola, Finland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sanila
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kotaniemi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Viikari
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Isomäki
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications*; D001827:Body Height; D015519:Bone Density; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000150:complications*; D013131:Spine / Q000378:metabolism