Childhood onset arthritis is associated with an increased risk of fracture: a population based study using the General Practice Research Database.
BACKGROUND
Childhood onset arthritis is associated with low bone mass and strength.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether childhood onset arthritis is associated with greater fracture risk.


METHODS
In a retrospective cohort study all subjects with onset of arthritis between 1 and 19 years of age in the United Kingdom General Practice Research Database were identified. As controls, all sex and age matched subjects from a practice that included a subject with arthritis were included. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for first fracture were generated using Mantel-Haenszel methods and Poisson regression.


RESULTS
1939 subjects with arthritis (51% female) and 207 072 controls (53% female) were identified. The median age at arthritis diagnosis was 10.9 years. A total of 129 (6.7%) first fractures were noted in subjects with arthritis compared with 6910 (3.3%) in controls over a median follow up of 3.90 and 3.95 years in the subjects with arthritis and controls, respectively. The IRR (95% confidence interval) for first fracture among subjects with arthritis, compared with controls, according to the age at the start of follow up were 1.49 (0.91 to 2.31) for age <10 years, 3.13 (2.21 to 4.33) at 10-15 years, 1.75 (1.18 to 2.51) at 15-20 years, 1.40 (0.91 to 2.08) at 20-45 years, and 3.97 (2.23 to 6.59) at >45 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Childhood onset arthritis is associated with a clinically significant increased risk of fracture in children, adolescents and, possibly, adults. Studies are urgently needed to characterise the determinants of structural bone abnormalities in childhood arthritis and devise prevention and treatment strategies.
Burnham
J M
JM
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Room 1579 CHOP North, 3535 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. burnhams@email.chop.edu
Shults
J
J
Weinstein
R
R
Lewis
J D
JD
Leonard
M B
MB
D000293:Adolescent; D017668:Age of Onset; D050280:Arm Bones / Q000293:injuries; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000150:complications*; D002648:Child; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007867:Leg Bones / Q000293:injuries; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006113:United Kingdom