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Longitudinal changes in bone mineral density in children with inflammatory bowel diseases

Levy-Shraga Y, Shenkar A, Modan-Moses D, Assa A, Haberman Y, Shouval D, Guz-Mark A, Lahad A et al.

Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992), 2020

41 participants

Abstract

AIM: Children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are prone to low bone mineral density (BMD). Our aim was to assess longitudinal changes in BMD in this population.

METHODS: A retrospective longitudinal study of children with IBD, treated at two tertiary centres in Israel, who underwent two BMD measurements by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Changes in lumbar spine BMD (∆L1-4 z-scores) were examined for correlations with clinical characteristics.

RESULTS: The cohort included 41 patients (age at diagnosis 12.1 ± 3.5 years, 23 females).The mean interval between the scans was 3.4 ± 2.0 years. There was a trend towards improvement in L1-4 z-scores (-1.64 ± 1.02 vs -1.45 ± 0.83, P = .12). ∆L1-4 z-scores correlated positively with ∆weight-standard deviation scores (SDS), ∆height-SDS and ∆BMI-SDS, and with age at the second scan (R = .55, P < .01; R = .42, P < .01; R = .42, P = .01; R = .35, P = .02, respectively); and negatively with L1-4 z-scores at the first scan (R = -.63, P < .01). Stepwise linear regression analysis identified the first scan L1-4 z-scores and ∆weight-SDS as independent predictors of ∆L1-4 z-scores. An L1-4 z-score ≤-2 at the first DXA scan was associated with significant improvement at the second scan.

CONCLUSION: Improvement in BMD was more pronounced in children who gained weight or whose BMD was low at the first scan.

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a cohort study, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 41 participants or records.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

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