How frailty affects bone loss and broken bones in Veterans with rheumatoid arthritis
Official title: Quantifying the Impact of Frailty on Osteoporosis and Fractures in Veterans with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Funded at VA Puget Sound Healthcare System · NIH-11132666 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how being frail changes bone strength and the chance of broken bones in Veterans who have rheumatoid arthritis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Puget Sound Healthcare System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5IK2CX002351-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11132666 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are Veterans with a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis who receive care in the VA system and have or can get bone density testing and routine blood work.
✕Less likely to help
People without rheumatoid arthritis, non-Veterans, or those who cannot access VA care or provide relevant health records are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
You would be part of research using VA health records and clinic tests to connect frailty, bone density, blood inflammation markers, and real-world fracture events. The team will combine bone mineral density scans, lab measures of inflammatory proteins (like IL-6, IL-1β, and TNFα), and follow-up data on fractures from Veterans Affairs databases. Researchers will use statistical models to see which aspects of frailty and inflammation are linked to faster bone loss or more fractures. The goal is to find patterns that could help spot Veterans with RA who are most at risk and guide better prevention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help identify Veterans with RA who are at higher risk of fractures so they can get earlier bone-protecting care.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies in the general population have linked inflammation and frailty to bone loss and fractures, but applying these findings specifically to Veterans with RA is less well studied and more novel.
Where this research is happening
-
VA Puget Sound Healthcare System
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wysham, Katherine D — VA Puget Sound Healthcare System
- Study coordinator: Wysham, Katherine D
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding how frailty affects osteoporosis and fractures in veterans with rheumatoid arthritis
This study is looking at how rheumatoid arthritis affects veterans by exploring the links between frailty, weak bones, and fractures, with the goal of finding ways to help improve their health and prevent these issues.
-
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This project looks at how rheumatoid arthritis affects blood vessels and clotting, with the goal of uncovering new ways to prevent heart and stroke risk for people with RA.
-
Risk factors and biomarkers for progression of subclinical RA-related lung disease
This study follows people with rheumatoid arthritis to understand who develops lung disease and what biomarkers predict it.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.