Original scientific paper
Muscle strength and bone density in patients with different rheumatic conditions: cross-sectional study
Selma Cvijetić
orcid.org/0000-0002-8607-5999
; Department for Environmental and Occupational Health, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Zagreb, Croatia
Simeon Grazio
; Department of Rheumatology, Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Sisters of Mercy University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia
Milica Gomzi
; Department for Environmental and Occupational Health, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Zagreb, Croatia
Ladislav Krapac
; Drago Čop Polyclinics for Rheumatology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Zagreb, Croatia
Tomislav Nemčić
; Department of Rheumatology, Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Sisters of Mercy University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia
Melita Uremović
; Domnius Polyclinic for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Zagreb, Croatia
Jasminka Bobić
; Department for Environmental and Occupational Health, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Aim To explore the relationship between muscle strength
and bone density in patients with different rheumatic diseases and to examine whether inflammatory arthritis was
more harmful for muscle strength and bone loss than degenerative joint diseases.
Methods The study included 361 men and women with
a mean ± standard deviation age of 60.5 ± 11.4 years and
different rheumatic conditions: regional syndromes, osteoarthritis of the hands, shoulders, knees, and hips, and
inflammatory arthritis. Maximum voluntary back strength
was measured by isometric dynamometry. Bone mineral
density (BMD; g/cm2
) of the lumbar spine, femoral neck,
and distal radius was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Anthropometry and lifestyle characteristics
were also assessed.
Results Back strength was lowest in patients with hand
and shoulder osteoarthritis (20.0 ± 17.9 kg), followed by
patients with inflammatory arthritis (24.8 ± 19.2 kg). Patients with inflammatory arthritis had the lowest BMD at
the mid-radius (0.650 ± 0.115 g/cm2
) and femoral neck
(0.873 ± 0.137 g/cm2
), while patients with hand and shoulder osteoarthritis had the lowest BMD at the mid-radius
(0.660 ± 0.101). In both sexes, muscle strength was significantly lower in patients who had lower BMD (T score<-
1.0). Multiple regression analysis identified significant predictors of back strength to be spine BMD (P = 0.024) and
body mass index (P = 0.004) in men and femoral neck BMD
in women (P = 0.004).
Conclusion Muscle strength decline may be connected
to bone loss in patients with rheumatic conditions, especially those with inflammatory joint diseases.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
71428
URI
Publication date:
15.4.2011.
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