Caffarelli et al, Diagnostics 2024
- Section of Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena,
This first extensive study, conducted at the University Hospital of Siena, highlights the clinical utility of REMS technology in assessing the bone status of patients with osteoarthritis. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether the use of REMS may enhance the identification of osteoporosis in this category of patients. Osteoarthritis at the lumbar level can lead to an overestimation of bone mineral density (BMD) measured with DXA, which can be a challenge in accurately diagnosing conditions like osteoporosis, where precise measurement of BMD is crucial.
A cohort of 500 patients with osteoarthritis and a medical prescription for a DXA examination was enrolled in the study. All patients underwent BMD measurements at the lumbar spine and femoral sites by both DXA and REMS techniques. The results showed BMD values measured with DXA at the lumbar spine were significantly higher than the BMD values ​​obtained with REMS. The differences were more pronounced in patients with a more severe degree of osteoarthritis. Furthermore, the percentage of subjects classified as “osteoporotic” by REMS was significantly higher than that classified by DXA. The results of this study indicate that, in a population with varying levels of osteoarthritis severity, REMS demonstrated a greater ability to diagnose osteoporosis than DXA. This enables a more accurate and early diagnosis, consequently improving the quality of life for patients with bone fragility, reducing the likelihood of fractures and their related complications.
Here are the key findings from this critical study:
- Significant Overestimation: BMD values measured with DXA at the lumbar spine were significantly higher than the values obtained with REMS.
- Severity Matters: These differences were even more pronounced in patients with a more severe degree of osteoarthritis.
- Improved Diagnosis Rate: The percentage of subjects classified as osteoporotic by REMS was significantly higher than the percentage classified by DXA.
The study indicates that REMS has a greater ability to diagnose osteoporosis than DXA in a population with varying levels of osteoarthritis severity. This enables a more accurate and early diagnosis, which is crucial for reducing the likelihood of fractures and their related complications.