title: The prevalence of aortic calcification on vertebral fracture assessment imaging among patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are at increased risk of osteoporosis (OP) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans have been validated for identifying patients with RA at risk for fracture. Reliable CVD risk stratification remains an unmet need in this population. Vertebral fracture assessment (VFA)-detected abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) has been validated as a marker of CVD in other populations, but the prevalence among patients with RA is unknown. In this study, we determined the prevalence and severity of AAC on VFA scans in a cohort of patients with RA. AAC was detected in 211 of the 603 (35%) eligible subjects; 24% were graded as severe. In multivariable analyses, the presence of AAC was significantly associated with longer disease duration and higher disease activity (p<0.05). Further studies are needed on the relationship between AAC and CVD in patients with RA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Merlin Park University Hospital, Galway, Ireland. Electronic address: ausafmohammad@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ausaf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mohammad
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Galway University Hospitals, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Derek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lohan
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Galway University Hospitals, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bergin
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Galway University Hospitals, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mooney
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Facility NUI Galway, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Newell
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Facility NUI Galway, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Donnell
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Galway University Hospitals, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Coughlan
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Galway University Hospitals, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Carey
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications*; D015519:Bone Density; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D061205:Vascular Calcification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*
keywords: Abdominal aortic calcification; DXA; VFA; cardiovascular disease; rheumatoid arthritis