Fragility Fractures in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis Compared with the General Population

Objective. To determine the rate ratios of hip and distal radius fractures in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), hip osteoarthritis (OA), and knee OA. Methods. Cohort study using healthcare data (1998–2012) covering the entire population of the Skåne region of Sweden. Results. We found an increased rate of hip fracture in both female [standardized fracture rate ratio (SFR) 1.54, 95% CI 1.40–1.70] and male patients with RA (SFR 1.81, 95% CI 1.51–2.17). The hip fracture rate in female OA was reduced by 10–20%, and trochanteric fracture tended to have a higher rate ratio compared with the cervical. Conclusion. The 50–80% increased rate of hip fracture adds to the total burden of RA while the shifted distribution of cervical/trochanteric fractures in OA is in support of subchondral bone alterations.