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Biomedical subjects

A J Collins

Publications and source records attributed to A J Collins.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Epoetin use and Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative hemoglobin targets in patients returning to dialysis with failed renal transplants.

Patients with failed renal transplants represent an increasing proportion of the current dialysis population. Although their risk of anemia might be expected to be high, whether these patients receive adequate anemia therapy after returning to dialysis is unknown. We studied intravenous iron use, epoetin doses, and hemoglobin levels in patients with and without failed renal transplants who survived for 6 months after initiation of dialysis in the United States between 1996 and 2001. Of the study population (n=220 557), 9922 (4.5%) had failed renal transplants. In spite of a greater likelihood of receiving intravenous iron therapy (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.47, P<0.0001) and epoetin (AOR 1.57, P<0.0001), patients with failed transplants were more anemic and had higher epoetin doses in each month of follow-up. During month 6, patients with failed transplants were more likely to have hemoglobin levels below 11 g/dl (AOR 1.50, P<0.0001) and to have epoetin-to-hemoglobin ratios above the population median of 1030 U/week per g/dl (AOR 1.73, P<0.0001). Patients who return to dialysis with failed transplants are at a higher risk of anemia than other patients who start dialysis; the pattern of lower hemoglobin levels and higher ratios of epoetin-to-hemoglobin suggests that relative epoetin resistance may be contributory.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Clinical epidemiology of pneumonia in hemodialysis patients: the USRDS waves 1, 3, and 4 study.

The clinical epidemiology of pneumonia in hemodialysis patients has received little attention. We linked the retrospective Waves 1, 3, and 4 Dialysis Morbidity and Mortality Study data sets (n=10 635) to Medicare claims to identify hospitalizations with pneumonia. Mean patient age was 60.3 years and duration of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) 3.8 years; 41.1% of patients had diabetes mellitus. Only 31.6% had received influenza vaccination in the 4 months preceding the study start date (January 1, 1994). The cumulative probability of pneumonia hospitalization was 0.09 at 1 year and 0.36 at 5 years. The main associations of hospitalization with pneumonia were age 45-64 years and >/=65 years (adjusted hazards ratio (AHR) 1.26 and 1.48 vs <45 years), chronic lung disease (AHR 1.62), ESRD duration >/=10 years (AHR 0.75 vs <5 years), body mass index (AHR 0.66 for 25.0-29.9, 0.58 for >/=30 vs <18.5 kg/m(2)), serum albumin (AHR 0.74 for >/=4.06 vs </=3.42), and transplantation as a time-dependent covariate (AHR 0.68). One- and 5-year post-pneumonia survival probabilities were 0.55 and 0.17 (vs 0.76 and 0.29 in the overall study population). Adjusted mortality hazards ratios were 4.08 (95% confidence interval (CI) 3.41-4.89) for the 0- to 6-month interval after pneumonia, 3.04 (95% CI 2.58-3.66) for 6- to 12-months, and 2.31 (95% CI 1.97-2.71) for 12-18 months, and remained approximately twofold thereafter. Hospitalization with pneumonia is common in hemodialysis patients and carries a poor prognosis.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed2006

Cognitive impairment in hemodialysis patients is common.

BACKGROUND: Hemodialysis patients are at high risk for cognitive impairment due to their older age and high prevalence of stroke and cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS: Using a cross-sectional design, the authors measured cognitive function in 374 hemodialysis patients aged 55 years and older and an age-matched comparison group in Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN. Cognitive performance was measured in three domains: memory, executive function, and language. Subjects were classified as having no, mild, moderate, or severe cognitive impairment. RESULTS: Of 338 subjects who completed testing in at least two of the three cognitive domains, 13.9% (95% CI 10.4, 18.1) were classified with mild impairment, 36.1% (31.0, 41.5) with moderate impairment, 37.3% (32.1, 42.7) with severe impairment, and 12.7% (9.4, 16.8) with normal cognition. Only 2.9% had a documented history of cognitive impairment. Factors associated with severe cognitive impairment on adjusted logistic regression were stroke (adjusted OR [AOR] 1.95; 95% CI 1.08, 3.49; p < 0.03), equilibrated Kt/V > 1.2 (1.67; 1.01, 2.75; p < 0.05), and education >12 years (0.32; 0.14, 0.72; p < 0.01). The AOR for severe cognitive impairment in a random sample of 101 hemodialysis patients vs an age-matched comparison group was 3.54 (1.28, 9.78; p < 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Moderate to severe cognitive impairment is common and undiagnosed in hemodialysis patients. Further studies are needed to determine whether dialysis exacerbates the cognitive impairment attributable to underlying disease. Cognitive testing in hemodialysis patients before dialysis initiation and periodically may be warranted.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed2006

State-level adjusted ESRD incident rates: use of observed vs model-predicted category-specific rates.

Because of differences in case-mix across states, state-level case-mix-adjusted end-stage renal disease (ESRD) incident rates are reported in each United States Renal Data System Annual Data Report to make the across-state comparisons valid. The adjusted rates were estimated by the direct adjustment method, a widely used method for adjusted event rate calculation, based on observed category-specific ESRD incident rates in each state (called the observation-based method). However, when some adjusting categories in a state are small, the adjusted rate and the standard error for this state as estimated by this method may be inaccurate. This report proposes a model-based method that can overcome the disadvantages of the observation-based method and can be extended to continuous adjusting variables. National ESRD incident data and national population data from 1990 to 1999 were used. State-level adjusted ESRD incident rates were estimated by both the observation- and the model-based methods. For the model-based method, a Poisson regression model was used to estimate category-specific ESRD incident rates. For large-population states, both observation- and model-based methods produced similar estimates for adjusted ESRD incident rates. For small-population states, however, the observation-based method produced year-to-year estimates of adjusted ESRD incident rates that varied considerably and also had very large standard errors. In contrast, the model-based method produced stable estimates. The model-based method can overcome the disadvantages of the observation-based method for estimating state-level adjusted ESRD incident rates, especially for small states.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed2006

Mortality studies comparing peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis: what do they tell us?

Several recent large-scale epidemiological studies comparing mortality among end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients receiving hemodialysis (HD) versus peritoneal dialysis (PD) show conflicting results. In this paper, we undertake a critical review of these studies. Our goal is to determine if there are any consistent trends in outcomes between HD and PD within select subgroups of patients once methodological differences have been accounted for. A total of six large-scale registry studies and three prospective cohort studies conducted in the United States (US), Canada, Denmark, and the Netherlands were reviewed. Summary findings from these studies are presented for comparative purposes. Additional summary analyses based on previously reported data on 398 940 incident US Medicare patients are included for the purpose of comparing results from this population of patients to those of the other select studies when similar methods of analysis are applied. Results are summarized in terms of the relative risk of death for PD versus HD (RR[PD:HD]). Differences in results between the nine studies can be attributed to the degree of case-mix adjustment carried out and to the use of different subgroups when comparing mortality between HD and PD. When these differences are accounted for, we found a remarkable degree of synergism in results between the registry studies and, to a lesser degree, the prospective cohort studies. PD was generally found to be associated with equal or better survival among non-diabetic patients and younger diabetic patients in all four countries. However, among older diabetic patients, results varied by country. The Canadian and Danish registries showed no difference in survival between PD and HD among older diabetics while in the US, HD was associated with better survival for diabetics aged 45 and older. All studies show a time-dependent trend in the RR of death with PD generally associated with equivalent or better survival during the first year or two of dialysis. However, results on longer-term survival varied according to study and to different subgroups within studies. Subgroup analyses in the prospective cohort studies were limited by small numbers of patients resulting in highly varied and somewhat controversial results when compared to the larger registry-based studies. Based on our review of recent publications and additional analyses of US Medicare data, we conclude that overall patient survival is similar for PD and HD but that important differences do exist within select subgroups of patients, particularly those subgroups defined by age and the presence or absence of diabetes.

Humans↗
PubMed2001

Assessment of instability of the long head of the biceps tendon by MRI.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether MRI can identify instability of the long head of the biceps tendon (LBT) in the rotator interval. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: A retrospective review was carried out of 19 patients, all arthroscopically examined, nine of whom had surgically confirmed instability of the LBT. RESULTS: A LBT perched on the lesser tuberosity correctly indicated all nine cases of instability with one false positive. In six of seven cases where the LBT was oval in shape, no instability of the biceps tendon existed, whereas LBT instability was present in eight of 12 patients with a flat long head of the biceps tendon. In seven of eight acutely angled intertubercular sulci there was no instability of the LBT while eight of 11 obtusely angled sulci were associated with LBT instability. By consensus impression, instability of the LBT could be determined with 67% sensitivity, 90% specificity, 86% positive predictive value, and 75% negative predictive value. CONCLUSIONS: A flat LBT perched on the lesser tuberosity with an obtusely angled intertubercular sulcus suggests the diagnosis of instability of the LBT in the correct clinical setting.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Evaluation of disease-state management of dialysis patients.

Dialysis patients are the only Medicare beneficiaries prohibited from joining managed care plans. Concerns have been raised about the ability of such plans to provide the comprehensive care required by patients with this complex condition. However, more than 20,000 dialysis patients belong to such plans because they were enrolled before developing end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Disease-state management, successfully applied to patients with diabetes mellitus and congestive heart failure, is now being used in patients with ESRD. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) and standardized hospitalization ratios (SHRs) were calculated for 1998 and 1999 in 1,541 patients enrolled in the RMS Disease Management program of renal disease-state management using US Renal Data System methods. SMRs were 0.643 and 0.806 for 1998 and 1999, respectively, significantly different from 1.0 for both years (P < 0.001). SHRs were 0.620 and 0.503 for 1998 and 1999, respectively, significantly different from 1.0 for both years (P < 0.001). Although additional studies are needed to define the aspects of care that are most important for the outcomes seen, this study shows that favorable outcomes are achievable for this vulnerable patient population within a managed care setting that applies coordinated approaches to care.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Trends in anemia at initiation of dialysis in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Anemia almost invariably develops in patients with chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) and is associated with a wide range of complications. The anemia of CRI can be effectively treated with recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO). Recent studies suggest that the management of anemia of CRI is suboptimal in the United States. METHODS: We examined the trends in hematocrit and rHuEPO use among all patients who started chronic dialysis therapy between April 1, 1995, and December 31, 1999, from the End-stage Renal Disease Medical Evidence Form 2728 submitted to the Health Care Financing Administration of the United States. Follow-up data containing hematocrit levels after initiation were obtained from the Medicare Part A institutional outpatient dialysis provider claims for 1990 to 1998 prevalent patients. RESULTS: From June 1995 to June 1999, the mean hematocrit at initiation of dialysis increased from 28.1 to 29.3%. Likewise, the annual percentage of patients receiving pre-dialysis rHuEPO increased from 21.8 to 28.1%. Patients receiving predialysis rHuEPO had a higher mean hematocrit than patients without predialysis rHuEPO. The annual percentage of patients with hematocrit <24% fell 6.6% and the percentage with hematocrit > or =30% increased 9.2%. The trend toward higher hematocrit levels has been consistent across all age, gender, and race categories. Older patients, males, whites, and those who selected peritoneal dialysis had higher hematocrit levels than their counterparts. There were significant geographic differences in the prevalence of predialysis rHuEPO use. CONCLUSION: There has been a slight improvement in the management of anemia of CRI in the United States. However, a considerable fraction of patients still have hematocrit levels that are significantly lower than the currently recommended target. Furthermore, improvement in the management of anemia could result in improved clinical outcomes among patients with CRI.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Prevalence and characteristics of individuals with chronic kidney disease in a large health maintenance organization.

This study is designed to estimate the prevalence of and gain further insight into the characteristics of the chronic kidney disease (CKD) population in a large US health maintenance organization (HMO) to better understand the CKD population in the United States overall. Analyses were performed using data from a staff and network model HMO in the southwestern United States with more than 150,000 members per year during 1994 to 1997. The estimated prevalence of CKD in the HMO population varied from 0.4% to 7.1%, depending on the definition of CKD used. Regardless of the definition, CKD was more common in men compared with women and in patients with diabetes mellitus and/or hypertension. Applying the age- and sex-specific prevalence rates in the HMO to the US population in 1990, we estimate there were approximately 9.1 million Americans with at least one elevated sex-specific creatinine (Cr) value and approximately 4.2 million Americans with at least two elevated Cr values separated by 90 days or greater, a more rigorous definition of CKD. From these results, it is apparent that there are a large number of patients in the United States with CKD. Most have not been identified because screening for CKD generally is not performed. Considering the high prevalence of CKD and the high cost and clinical morbidity associated with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), it is clear that CKD is an important public health problem. Early identification of patients with CKD would allow treatment that could slow the progression to ESRD, improve clinical outcomes, and constrain the growth of costs in the ESRD program. The time has come for a structured public and professional educational program to address this serious condition.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Cardiovascular disease in end-stage renal disease patients.

This study evaluates risk factor monitoring in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients with cardiovascular disease. Death rates from cardiovascular disease in ESRD patients are 20 to 40 times higher than in the general population, and 72% of ESRD patients with an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are dead within 2 years of follow-up. Patients who have sustained an AMI rarely receive definitive testing to assess coronary circulation, and cardiac catheterization rates and revascularization rates are low, even after the high-risk event of an AMI. Risk factor intervention to treat lipid disorders in the ESRD population has received little attention, with the USRDS reporting that in 1998, 58% of dialysis and 64% of transplant patients had no lipid monitoring performed within a year. Of those tested, only 33% of dialysis and 27% of transplant patients had two or more tests within 1 year. Glycemic control monitoring in the form of HbA1c, recommended for diabetes management, is also underutilized in ESRD patients, with fewer than half receiving a single test within 1 year and only 10% receiving three or more tests. This raises concerns that diabetic glycemic control monitoring may be suboptimal in the ESRD population. The use of diabetic eye examinations and diabetic glucose monitoring is also low, as are influenza vaccination rates. These data suggest that the clinical care of cardiovascular disease in the ESRD patients needs more attention.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Use of ultrasonographic guidance in interventional musculoskeletal procedures: a review from a single institution.

We have evaluated the utility of ultrasonographic guidance for intervention in the musculoskeletal system. All interventional musculoskeletal procedures using ultrasonographic guidance performed at our institution from July 1998 through November 1999 were reviewed. Examinations were performed using either a linear or curved phased array transducer, based on depth and local geometry. The choice of needle was likewise optimized for specific anatomic conditions. One hundred ninety-five procedures were performed on 167 patients from July 1998 through November 1999. Thirty-one procedures had magnetic resonance correlation within 6 months beforehand. Excluding large-joint aspirations and injections, we found that 180 of the procedures were more readily performed using ultrasonography than any other imaging modality. These included therapeutic injections into tendon sheaths (biceps, flexor digitorum longus, posterior tibial, and iliopsoas), Morton's neuromas, plantar fascia, wrist ganglia, and tarsal tunnel cysts; peritendinous hamstring injections; and synovial cyst and muscle biopsies. In all cases, the target of interest was identified easily with ultrasonography, and needle position was documented readily. Also in all cases, aspiration or medication delivery to the site of interest was observed during real time and was documented on postprocedure images of the area. No significant complications (e.g., bleeding, infection, and neurovascular compromise) were encountered during or immediately after any procedure. Ultrasonography is a readily available imaging modality useful for guiding interventional procedures in the musculoskeletal system. The ability to document exact needle placement in real time confirms accurate placement of therapeutic injections, fluid aspiration, and soft tissue biopsies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Can computed tomography identify patients with anaemia?

Thirty-three in-patients attended for non-contrast enhanced computed tomography (CT) of chest and/or abdomen within a six-week period (11 M, 21 F) . All had measurement of their full blood profile within the previous 72 hours. Patients with a blood dyscrasia or known history of active bleeding were excluded. All patients were imaged using a Siemens Somatom Plus S scanner. The scanning parameters were standardised at 210 mA, 120 kV, 10 mm slice thickness, pitch of 1. Following image review, circular regions of interest (ROI) were defined within the lumina of the aorta and inferior vena cava (IVC) at the level of the superior mesenteric artery origin. The mean attenuation value was calculated using on-board computer software, and recorded. The mean patient age was 59.6 years (range 18-85 years). A non-parametric correlation analysis was performed and a linear regression plot obtained. A significant correlation was demonstrated between haemoglobin measurement and the aortic and IVC attenuation value. The correlation was stronger (r = 0.64) for the aortic attenuation value than for the IVC attenuation values (r = 0.57). In addition, if anaemia is defined as less than 14g/I for a male and less than 12g/I for a female, then, in our study group, no male with an aortic attenuation value greater than 50HU and no female with an aortic attenuation greater than 45 HU was found to be anaemic. The results demonstrate a significant correlation between patients' haemoglobin measurement and the derived aortic attenuation value. We do not propose this as a method of accurately measuring the patient's haemoglobin; however, we feel that it may be possible for a radiologist at non-contrast enhanced CT examination to note the probable presence of anaemia.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Impact of disease severity and hematocrit level on reuse-associated mortality.

Prior studies on reuse-associated mortality have presented conflicting results and included few adjustments for disease severity or hematocrit levels. To evaluate the impact of patient and provider characteristics on reuse-associated mortality, we developed a period-prevalent model with a 6-month entry period. Five cohorts of Medicare hemodialysis patients surviving from July 1 through December 31 of the entry year (1991, 60,985 patients; 1992, 63,081 patients; 1993, 76,018 patients; 1994, 82,899 patients; 1995, 91,761 patients) were followed up for the next year. Using a basic Cox regression survival model (M-1) including age, sex, race, renal diagnosis, prior end-stage renal disease time, unit age, unit size, water treatment, dialysate, and germicide, results were compared with those using a more inclusive model (M-4) adding dialyzer type (conventional or high efficiency/high flux), unit designation (hospital based or freestanding), unit profit status, comorbidity, disease severity, and hematocrit. The previous association of for-profit units with increased mortality was not present after 1994. Whereas the M-1 analysis showed better survival in reuse units after 1991, the more complete M-4 analysis showed no difference in the risk for mortality between reuse and no-reuse units. We conclude that mortality rates in the United States from 1991 to 1995, when adjusted comprehensively for patient and unit characteristics, were not different in units that practiced reuse and those that did not.

Equipment Reuse↗
PubMed2000

Diabetes in the elderly population.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus has emerged as an important condition of older patients in which both microvascular and macrovascular complications are a common cause of morbidity and mortality. In contrast to type 1 diabetes mellitus, this endocrinopathy is clustered in minority populations and has both strong genetic and environmental factors that influence disease manifestation. A number of physiological alterations of glucose metabolism including hepatic overproduction of glucose, and reduced glucose utilization by peripheral tissues as a result of insulin resistance contribute to the development of the metabolic manifestations of this disease. Ultimately, pancreatic failure and reduced insulin secretion lead to hyperglycemia and the diabetic state. Frequently, many of these metabolic manifestations, or what has been termed Syndrome X, antecede the development of overt diabetes by many years. This syndrome is manifest clinically by such cardiovascular risk factors as hypertension, dyslipidemia, and coagulation abnormalities. This abnormal metabolic milieu contributes to the high prevalence of macrovascular complications including coronary artery disease as well as more generalized atherosclerosis. Microvascular complications have only more recently been recognized as an important and frequent complication of type 2 diabetes. Among the elderly and minority populations, this has become the single most important cause of end-stage renal failure that necessitates renal replacement therapies. The outcome for these patients on hemodialysis, the modality most frequently selected, is poor, with the majority of these patients dying of cardiovascular causes. Unfortunately, interventional strategies to reduce or prevent the microvascular and macrovascular complications have only recently received the needed attention and will require considerable effort and resources to improve the clinical outcomes and life expectancies for these patients.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Long-term survival of renal transplant recipients in the United States after acute myocardial infarction.

Cardiac disease is a major cause of death in renal transplant recipients. One third of the cardiac deaths are attributed to acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Few data exist on predictors of long-term survival of renal transplant recipients after AMI. The purpose of this study is to determine predictors of survival (including treatment era) for renal transplant recipients in the United States after AMI. The US Renal Data System database of 783, 171 patients was used to retrospectively examine outcomes of renal transplant recipients hospitalized during 1977 to 1996 for a first AMI after initiation of renal replacement therapy. Long-term survival was estimated by life-table method, and independent predictors of survival were examined in a comorbidity-adjusted Cox model. There were 4,250 renal transplant recipients with AMI. The in-hospital death rate was 12.8%. Overall 2-year cardiac and all-cause mortality rates were 11.8% +/- 0.6% (SE) and 33.6% +/- 0. 8%, respectively. The poorest survival after AMI occurred in patients with diabetic end-stage renal disease (ESRD), with 2-year cardiac and all-cause mortality rates of 14.9% +/- 1.1% and 40.5% +/- 1.4%, respectively. In the Cox model, the risks for cardiac and all-cause death from AMI were 51% (P = 0.0003) and 45% less (P < 0. 0001) in 1990 to 1996 compared with 1977 to 1984, respectively. The long-term survival of renal transplant recipients in the United States after AMI has markedly improved in the modern treatment era. Patients with diabetic ESRD experience the worst outcome.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Hematocrit levels and associated Medicare expenditures.

Clinical studies and the National Kidney Foundation-Dialysis Outcomes Quality Initiative guidelines suggest that a target hematocrit of 33% to less than 36% is appropriate for patient benefit. Previous studies have shown an association of lower risks for death and hospitalization when hematocrits were 33% to less than 36%. In this study, we assessed the relationship between hematocrit value and associated Medicare expenditures, analyzing incident Medicare hemodialysis patients from January 1, 1991, through June 30, 1995. All patients survived at least 90 days to normalize eligibility and an additional 6-month entry period to assess comorbidity and hematocrit values. All patients were followed up from July 1, 1991, through December 31, 1996. We assessed the association between hematocrit values in the 6-month entry period and the Medicare-allowable Part A and Part B per-member-per-month (PMPM) expenditures in the follow-up period, controlling for other variables, including patient demographic characteristics, comorbid conditions, and severity of disease. We found that hematocrits of 33% to less than 36% and 36% and higher were associated with lower Medicare-allowable payments in the follow-up period. Compared with reference patients with hematocrits of 30% to less than 33%, the Medicare-allowable PMPM expenditures were significantly greater for patients with hematocrits less than 27% and 27% to less than 30% (12. 7% and 5.3%, respectively), and the Medicare-allowable PMPMs were significantly less for patients with hematocrits of 33% to less than 36% and 36% and higher (6.0% and 8.2%, respectively). Although these findings suggest that the treatment of anemia may be associated with significant savings in total patient Medicare expenditures, caution should be considered because these findings are associations and should not be deemed as showing causality.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

The prevalence of vertebral fractures in mild ankylosing spondylitis and their relationship to bone mineral density.

OBJECTIVE: To determine bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with mild ankylosing spondylitis (AS), to establish the prevalence of vertebral fractures and fracture risk in these patients, and to determine the relationship between BMD and vertebral fractures. METHODS: Sixty-six men with mild AS were studied. BMD of the lumbar spine and femoral neck was measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and radiographs of the thoracic and lumbar spine were obtained in all subjects. From the radiographs, vertebral fractures were characterized by a morphometric technique using established criteria. Thirty-nine healthy male subjects aged 50-60 yr, recruited from primary care registers, had spinal radiographs performed and served as controls for vertebral fractures. RESULTS: In patients with AS, BMD was reduced in both the lumbar spine 0.97 (0.1) g/cm(2) [T score -1.10 (1.3), 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.50, +0.14] and femoral neck 0.82 (0.1) g/cm(2) [T score -1.40 (1.2), 95% CI -0.51, +0.09]. There was no correlation between BMD of either the lumbar spine or femoral neck and duration of disease in patients with AS. Eleven of 66 (16.7%) patients with AS had a vertebral fracture, compared with one of 39 (2.6%) controls; odds ratio 5.92 (95% CI 1.4, 23.8). AS patients with fractures were not significantly older (mean age 41.4 vs 37.8 yr, P=0.17), but had significantly longer disease duration (12.4 vs 9.3 yr, P<0.05) than patients without fractures. No significant difference was found in the visual analogue scores for pain in AS patients with fractures compared with those without. No significant correlation was observed between BMD of the lumbar spine or femoral neck and vertebral fractures in patients with AS. In addition, there was no significant difference in the lumbar spine or femoral neck BMD in AS patients with fractures compared with those without. CONCLUSIONS: Spinal and hip osteopenia and vertebral fractures are a feature of mild AS. However, there was no correlation between BMD and vertebral fractures in these patients. AS patients with mild disease had a higher risk of fractures compared with the normal population and this increased with the duration of disease.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗