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Updated: Aug 29, 2026
Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease
Published on: June 16, 2014
Osteoporosis and chronic kidney disease
1University of Washington and Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA 98108, USA. cos@u.washington.edu
Insights
Osteoporosis is common in chronic kidney disease stage V (CKD-V) patients. Risk factors for bone loss are similar to the general population, with current treatment focusing on risk modification.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Endocrinology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Bone disease is a significant complication in chronic kidney disease stage V (CKD-V) patients.
- While renal osteodystrophy is well-studied, osteoporosis in CKD-V remains less understood.
- Hip fractures are common in CKD-V and linked to increased mortality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the risk factors for bone loss in CKD-V patients.
- To explore the limited knowledge on adverse outcomes and therapeutic interventions for osteoporosis in this population.
- To highlight the unknown role of bone loss in CKD-V mortality.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing studies on osteoporosis in CKD-V.
- Analysis of risk factors for bone loss in CKD-V patients.
- Synthesis of current understanding regarding outcomes and treatments.
Main Results:
- Risk factors for bone loss in CKD-V overlap with the general population, including female gender, Caucasian race, older age, chronic disease, and immobility.
- Chronic acidosis and renal osteodystrophy may also contribute to bone loss.
- Data on adverse outcomes and therapeutic interventions for CKD-V osteoporosis are scarce.
Conclusions:
- CKD-V patients face a high risk of osteoporosis and associated fractures.
- Current treatment strategies for CKD-V-associated osteoporosis emphasize risk-factor modification.
- Further research is needed to understand the impact of osteoporosis and its treatments in CKD-V.
Abstract:
Bone disease is heterogenous and highly prevalent among those with chronic kidney disease, stage V (CKD-V) patients. Although we know much regarding the risk factors and outcomes associated with renal osteodystrophy, less is known about osteoporosis in CKD-V. Factors that predict bone loss in the CKD-V population are similar to those in the general population and include female gender, Caucasian race, older age, chronic disease, and immobility. In addition, some studies suggest that chronic acidosis and renal osteodystrophy may also increase the risk for bone loss. Little is known about associated adverse outcomes or the impact of therapeutic interventions for osteoporosis. Although we know that the risk for hip fracture is high among CKD-V patients and that fracture is associated with an increased risk for death, the role that bone loss plays is largely unknown. Current recommendations suggest that risk-factor modification is the most appropriate course of treatment for CKD-V-associated osteoporosis.
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