RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Risk factors associated with incident clinical vertebral and nonvertebral fractures in Japanese women with rheumatoid arthritis: a prospective 54-month observational study. JF The Journal of Rheumatology JO J Rheumatol FD The Journal of Rheumatology SP 303 OP 310 VO 34 IS 2 A1 Furuya, Takefumi A1 Kotake, Shigeru A1 Inoue, Eisuke A1 Nanke, Yuki A1 Yago, Toru A1 Kobashigawa, Tsuyoshi A1 Ichikawa, Naomi A1 Tanaka, Eiichi A1 Momohara, Shigeki A1 Nakajima, Ayako A1 Hara, Masako A1 Tomatsu, Taisuke A1 Yamanaka, Hisashi A1 Kamatani, Naoyuki YR 2007 UL http://www.jrheum.org/content/34/2/303.abstract AB OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between potential risk factors and incident clinical fractures in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: A total of 1733 female patients with RA over age 50 years were enrolled in a prospective observational cohort study. Participants were followed for 54 months from October 2000 to March 2005, and classified into 4 groups according to incident fracture status since baseline: those without a new fracture; those with a new clinically recognized vertebral fracture; those with an incident nonvertebral fracture at the wrist, hip, humerus, pelvis, or ribs (main nonvertebral fracture); and those with any new nonvertebral fracture. Cox proportional hazard models were used to analyze independent contributions of various risk factors to fracture incidence. RESULTS: During the followup period, 33, 34, and 98 patients developed a vertebral, a main nonvertebral, and any nonvertebral fracture, respectively. The Japanese Health Assessment Questionnaire (J-HAQ) score was associated with relative risks (RR) of 2.42 (95% confidence interval 1.42-4.14), 1.76 (95% CI 1.07-2.89), and 1.73 (95% CI 1.29-2.32) for vertebral, main nonvertebral, and all nonvertebral fractures. The risks of vertebral and any nonvertebral fractures were increased for age over 70 years compared with age in the 50s (RR 3.25, 95% CI 1.19-8.86; and RR 2.22, 95% CI 1.20-4.10, respectively). Clinical variables and medications were associated with a new fracture. CONCLUSION: HAQ, age, history of any prior fracture, and orthopedic surgery for RA appear to be associated with fractures in Japanese women with RA.