title: Fracture risk in patients with muscular dystrophy and spinal muscular atrophy.
abstract: We aimed at studying fracture risk in patients with Duchenne's muscular dystrophy (DMD), Becker's muscular dystrophy (BEMD), and spinal muscular atrophy type II and III (SMA II and III). A self-administered questionnaire was mailed to 293 patients with DMD, BEMD, SMA II or SMA III of which 229 returned the questionnaire. Each respondent was compared with an age- and gender-matched control subject. The mean age was 23.9 +/- 15.9 years for the patients and 23.3 +/- 16.5 years for the controls. There were significantly more fractures among patients than controls after the diagnosis was made (RR = 1.9), but not before. The patients had more fractures of the femurs, lower legs, and upper arms than the controls. Low energy fractures were more frequent in patients than controls (9% vs 0%). Many fractures in the femurs (40%), lower legs (35%), and feet and toes (44%) led to a permanent loss of function. Loss of ambulation was the major risk factor for fractures. In conclusion, fracture risk is increased in neuromuscular disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism C, Aarhus Amtssygehus, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vestergaard
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Glerup
authors.forename: B F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Steffensen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rejnmark
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rahbek
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moseklide
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020388:Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / Q000150:complications*; D012306:Risk; D014897:Spinal Muscular Atrophies of Childhood / Q000150:complications*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires