PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - A.A. Ionescu
AU  - E. Schoon
TI  - Osteoporosis in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
AID  - 10.1183/09031936.03.00004609
DP  - 2003 Nov 02
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - 64s--75s
VI  - 22
IP  - 46 suppl
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/22/46_suppl/64s.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/22/46_suppl/64s.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2003 Nov 02; 22
AB  - Osteoporosis is one of the systemic effects associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Potential risk factors of osteoporosis may be due to the lifestyle, genetics, treatment with corticosteroids, endocrine abnormalities or the impairment of the body composition and peripheral skeletal muscles. Evidence for the possible contribution of such factors is reviewed. The occurrence of fractures, as a consequence of osteoporosis, can contribute to the disability and mortality of patients with COPD and add to the economic burden of the disease. The treatment with corticosteroids for the lung disease is associated with increased prevalence of fractures, but other factors may contribute. There is a remarkable paucity of interventional studies targeting the osteoporosis in patients with COPD. The results of studies on the treatment of osteoporosis in chronic lung diseases, some including small numbers of patients with COPD, are reviewed in the paper. Prospective longitudinal studies on the incidence of osteoporosis in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease need to assess patients with various degrees of disease severity and investigate the possible contribution of etiological factors. Randomised placebo-controlled trials are required to assess the effect of intervention, such as bisphosphonates, hormone replacement, calcium supplementation, on the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis and fractures in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.