In COPD, Low Bone Mineral Density Is Common

Low bone mineral density (BMD) is common in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is associated with worse degrees of pulmonary function and prognosis, according to a recent study.

For their study, Dr Tatiana Costa assessed 121 patients (mean age 67.9 years) with COPD, along with 2 control groups of smokers and non-smokers without COPD. All patients in the disease group underwent BMD and vertebral fracture assessments.
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Results showed that 88.4% of patients with COPD had altered BMD, and that lower BMD values were more prevalent in patients with COPD vs controls.

In patients with COPD, BMD was also associated with worse degrees of obstruction (forced expiratory volume in the first second of forced breath [FEV₁]), Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD), and Body-Mass Index, Airflow Obstruction, Dyspnea, and Exercise Capacity (BODE) index scores.

Furthermore, morphometric vertebral fractures (MVF) were more prevalent in patients with COPD (57.8%) compared with both smoking controls (23.8%) and non-smoking controls (14.8%). However, the prevalence of MVF was not associated with FEV₁, GOLD, or BODE index scores.

“This study showed a high prevalence of low BMD in COPD patients and an association with a worse degree of FEV₁, GOLD, and BODE,” the researchers concluded. “MVF in patients with COPD were also higher but were not associated with disease gravity and prognosis.”

—Christina Vogt

Reference:

Costa T. Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have a high prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis associated with the worst degrees of pulmonary function and prognosis. J Pulm Respir Med. 2018; 8:1. doi:10.4172/2161-105X. 1000442.