Bone mineral density in asthmatic patients on inhaled corticosteroids in a developing country Full Text
Annals of Thoracic Medicine, 04/03/2012  Clinical Article

Kuan YC et al. – The risk factors for osteoporosis and osteopenia among asthmatic patients were older age and lower body mass index (BMI), but not the cumulative dose of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). Asthmatic patients on ICS have no added risk of osteoporosis or osteopenia as compared with non–asthmatic subjects.

• This was a cross–sectional study conducted from August 2007 to July 2009.
• Asthmatic patients aged 18 years and older who had been on ICS for at least one year and a control group of subjects not on ICS were included.
• BMD was measured using DEXA (dual energy X–ray absorptiometry) scan.
• The WHO classification of T–scores for osteopenia and osteoporosis were used.
• A total of 143 subjects were recruited (69 asthmatics and 74 control subjects).

• T–scores of the spine, femur, and hip of the asthmatics vs the control subjects were mean, –0.72 vs -0.57 (P=0.98); median, -0.60 vs -0.80 (P=0.474); and mean, 0.19 vs 0.06 (P=0.275); respectively.
• T–scores of the spine, femur, and hip showed significant negative correlation with age and significant positive correlation with body mass index (BMI).