OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of and the risk factors for vertebral fractures in a cohort of children with chronic rheumatic diseases considered at risk for osteopenia. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a cross-sectional study of patients with chronic rheumatic diseases at the Montreal Children's Hospital. RESULTS: Of the 90 study participants (22 boys, 68 girls), 10 boys and 7 girls (19%) were found to have vertebral fractures. These 17 children had a total of 50 fractures, an average of 2.9 per affected child. Fractures in the upper thoracic region (T5-8) accounted for 55%. Only 56% of all fractures were symptomatic. With multivariate regression, we identified male sex (P < .01), body mass index z-score (P < .02), and cumulative glucocorticoid dose (P < .01) as significant predictors of the number of vertebral fractures. CONCLUSIONS: Our study examined the prevalence of vertebral fractures in a high-risk pediatric population. Nineteen percent of our cohort had vertebral fractures. Significant risk factors for the development of vertebral fractures include male sex and cumulative glucocorticoid dose. Better understanding of the extent of the problem in this population will allow us to further refine screening guidelines and treatment in these patients.
OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of and the risk factors for vertebral fractures in a cohort of children with chronic rheumatic diseases considered at risk for osteopenia. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a cross-sectional study of patients with chronic rheumatic diseases at the Montreal Children's Hospital. RESULTS: Of the 90 study participants (22 boys, 68 girls), 10 boys and 7 girls (19%) were found to have vertebral fractures. These 17 children had a total of 50 fractures, an average of 2.9 per affected child. Fractures in the upper thoracic region (T5-8) accounted for 55%. Only 56% of all fractures were symptomatic. With multivariate regression, we identified male sex (P < .01), body mass index z-score (P < .02), and cumulative glucocorticoid dose (P < .01) as significant predictors of the number of vertebral fractures. CONCLUSIONS: Our study examined the prevalence of vertebral fractures in a high-risk pediatric population. Nineteen percent of our cohort had vertebral fractures. Significant risk factors for the development of vertebral fractures include male sex and cumulative glucocorticoid dose. Better understanding of the extent of the problem in this population will allow us to further refine screening guidelines and treatment in these patients.
Authors: Celia Rodd; Bianca Lang; Timothy Ramsay; Nathalie Alos; Adam M Huber; David A Cabral; Rosie Scuccimarri; Paivi M Miettunen; Johannes Roth; Stephanie A Atkinson; Robert Couch; Elizabeth A Cummings; Peter B Dent; Janet Ellsworth; John Hay; Kristin Houghton; Roman Jurencak; Maggie Larché; Claire LeBlanc; Kiem Oen; Claire Saint-Cyr; Robert Stein; David Stephure; Shayne Taback; Brian Lentle; Maryann Matzinger; Nazih Shenouda; David Moher; Frank Rauch; Kerry Siminoski; Leanne M Ward Journal: Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) Date: 2012-01 Impact factor: 4.794
Authors: A M Huber; I Gaboury; D A Cabral; B Lang; A Ni; D Stephure; S Taback; P Dent; J Ellsworth; C LeBlanc; C Saint-Cyr; R Scuccimarri; J Hay; B Lentle; M Matzinger; N Shenouda; D Moher; F Rauch; K Siminoski; L M Ward Journal: Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) Date: 2010-04 Impact factor: 4.794
Authors: K Siminoski; K-C Lee; H Jen; R Warshawski; M A Matzinger; N Shenouda; M Charron; C Coblentz; J Dubois; R Kloiber; H Nadel; K O'Brien; M Reed; K Sparrow; C Webber; B Lentle; L M Ward Journal: Osteoporos Int Date: 2011-11-23 Impact factor: 4.507