Pos1414 Prevalence and Predictive Factors for the Development of Osteoporosis in a Cohort of Systemic Sclerosis Patients

Background: Despite reports of reduced bone mineral density (BMD) in international cohorts of patients with Systemic Sclerosis (SSc), the prevalence of osteoporosis in Italian patients with SSc remains unknown. According to ISTAT data for the year 2021, 7.8% of the Italian population (13.2% female, 2.1% male) reported being affected by osteoporosis, while the global prevalence of osteoporosis is 18.3% (95% CI 16.2-20.7). In the population of patients affected by SSc, the prevalence of low BMD ranges from 27% to 53.3%, while the prevalence of osteoporosis (OP) varies from 3% to 51.1%. In this study, we report dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan rates in a cohort of SSc patients at a specialized outpatient clinic of a tertiary hospital. Simultaneously, we analyze the prevalence and associations of osteoporosis in screened patients. Objectives: The primary objectives of this study are to determine the prevalence of osteoporosis among Italian patients with Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) attending a specialized outpatient clinic in a tertiary hospital and to investigate potential risk factors associated with low bone mineral density (BMD) in SSc patients, including family history of osteoporosis, age, menopausal status, disease duration, specific SSc subtypes (such as diffuse form), internal organ involvement, vitamin D levels, and the presence of calcinosis. Methods: A retrospective review of medical records was conducted to determine if patients underwent DXA scans between 2016 and 2021. T scores for the lumbar spine and femoral neck, fracture history, and osteoporosis therapies were extracted. Results: In the study involving 144 patients, 70% (102 patients) underwent DXA scans. Among patients with available T-score values (n = 90), 33.0% (30 patients) had osteoporosis, while 53.3% (48 patients) had osteopenia. Potential risk factors for low BMD in SSc include a family history of osteoporosis, age, menopause, diffuse form, internal organ involvement, low vitamin D levels and the presence of calcinosis. Those participating in screening showed a longer disease duration (19.9 years vs. 15.2 years, P = 0.002), a higher incidence of calcinosis (50.5% vs. 36.4%, P = 0.028), myositis (12.6% vs. 0.7%, P <0.001), synovitis (42.7% vs. 28.6%, P = 0.022), gastrointestinal involvement (76.7% vs. 47.1%, P <0.001), and interstitial lung disease (53.0% vs. 40.0%, P <0.001). Conclusion: We observed high rates of osteoporosis among Italian patients with SSc. Further assessments in larger prospective studies are needed to establish guidelines for formal osteoporosis screening in SSc patients and for a comprehensive evaluation of risk factors. REFERENCES: NIL. Acknowledgements: NIL. Disclosure of Interests: None declared.