title: Association between osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis in women: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Osteoporosis has frequently been observed in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The present study was undertaken in order to evaluate factors associated with osteoporosis among women with rheumatoid arthritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study, carried out in a public hospital in São Paulo.
  
  
  METHODS
  The participants were 83 women with rheumatoid arthritis (53.7 +/- 10.0 years old). Bone mineral density (BMD) and body composition were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. The patients were divided into three groups according to BMD: group 1, normal BMD (n = 24); group 2, osteopenia (n = 38); and group 3, osteoporosis (n = 21). Tests were performed to compare differences in means and correlations, with adjustments for age, duration of disease and cumulative corticosteroid. The relationships between clinical factors, physical activity score, dietary intake, body composition and biochemical parameters were analyzed using linear regression models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean calcium, vitamin D and omega-6 intakes were lower than the recommendations. Associations were found between BMD and age, disease duration, parathyroid hormone concentration and fat intake. The linear regression model showed that being older, with more years of disease and lower weight were negatively correlated with BMD [Total femur = 0.552 + 0.06 (weight) + 0.019 (total physical activity) - 0.05 (age) - 0.003 (disease duration); R(2) = 48.1; P < 0.001].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study indicates that nutritional factors and body composition are associated with bone mass in women with rheumatoid arthritis.
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Department, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Karin Sedó
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Sarkis
authors.forename: Mariana Barbieri
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Salvador
authors.forename: Marcelo Medeiros
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Pinheiro
authors.forename: Raissa Gomes
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Cristiano Augusto
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Zerbini
authors.forename: Lígia Araújo
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Martini
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications*; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000502:physiology; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000150:complications*