P164 Fracture risk in axial spondyloarthritis: a retrospective analysis of the use of the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool in a cohort of affected patients

Abstract

Abstract Background/Aims Fractures are common in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) patients. The FRAX (Fracture Risk Assessment Tool) score is a validated tool for the assessment of fracture risk. Unlike axSpA, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is counted as a risk factor in FRAX. The primary aim was to calculate a FRAX score in a cohort of axSpA patients. In addition, a second FRAX score was determined by ticking the “RA risk” as positive on the second assessment. Methods Data were examined on a cohort of axSpA patients attending the St James’s Hospital Spondylitis service. Bone mineral density was assessed at the neck of femur on the patient’s dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). This, plus the individual patient’s risk factors, were added to the FRAX score calculator. The analysis was then repeated with the RA risk box ticked as positive. The effect of such an adjustment (taking account of their diagnosis of axSpA) on the fracture risk status of these patients was made to assess if this resulted in an additional number of patients within the cohort being at risk of fracture. A patient with a 10-year hip fracture risk of > 3% or 10-year major osteoporotic fracture risk of > 20% is high risk. Results Table 1 summarises the characteristics of the cohort. All (100%) of the patients met ASAS axSpA criteria and 85% met Modified New York (mNY) criteria for ankylosing spondylitis. Five patients had known osteoporosis and an additional 9 patients were classified as being at increased fracture risk using the FRAX Tool. A further 7 patients could be classified as being at increased fracture risk when the FRAX was adjusted for the axSpA diagnosis, by ticking the RA risk box as positive. Conclusion Fracture risk is a significant issue in patients with axSpA; however, this risk is frequently under-recognised. The use of the FRAX score improves the detection of those at fracture risk, and its use should be strongly encouraged in all rheumatology clinics managing axSpA patients. When the same weighting is given to axSpA as RA, there is a further increase in the identification of patients at risk of fractures. Disclosure P. Mulkerrin: None. F. O'Shea: None. G. Fitzgerald: None.