Risk factors of systemic lupus erythematosus complicated with osteoporosis

Objective To investigate the potential risk factors of the incidence of osteoporosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus （SLE）. Methods In this study, 125 sex- and age-matched SLE patients （SLE group） and 125 healthy controls （HC group） were screened from the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University,Fujian Provincial General Hospital, Ganzhou Municipal Hospital and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College using the PSM matching method. Clinical data were collected. Bone mineral density （BMD） of the lumbar spine, femoral neck and total hip was measured. T values in male and postmenopausal female aged≥50 years were calculated and Z values in male and premenopausal female aged < 50 years were calculated. The risk factors of the incidence of osteoporosis in SLE patients between two groups were identified by logistic regression analysis. Results The lumbar spine BMD （T value） in patients with SLE was lower than that in the HC group （P < 0.05）. The lumbar spine, femoral neck and total hip BMD （Z value） in the SLE group were lower than those in the HC group （all P < 0.05）. Besides, the probability of abnormal BMD regarding the T and Z values in the SLE group was higher compared with that in the HC group （both P < 0.05）. In the SLE group, the proportion of normal BMD according to the T value was lower than that in the HC group, especially the lumbar spine. In the SLE group, the proportion of lumbar spine, femoral neck and total hip BMD （Z value） lower than normal level was higher than that in the HC group. In the SLE group, long disease duration, history of glucocorticoid use, age > 50 years and coronary artery disease were the risk factors of osteoporosis in SLE patients. Conclusions SLE patients with long disease duration, history of glucocorticoid use, age > 50 years and coronary artery disease are high-risk population for osteoporosis.