Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 17, 2026

Author Spotlight: Traditional Chinese Medicine for Sleep Disorders in Acute COPD — A Safe, Cost-Effective Approach
Published on: October 18, 2024
Associated bone mineral density and obstructive sleep apnea in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Tsai-Yu Wang1, Yu-Lun Lo2, Pai-Chien Chou1
1Department of Thoracic Medicine, School of Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Background:
Osteoporosis is an important issue for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Worse systemic inflammation and reduced exercise capacity have been reported in COPD patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), implying that OSA may be an independent factor for osteoporosis in COPD patients.
Methods:
A total of 66 patients with bone mineral density (BMD) and polysomnography results from a previous COPD cohort (January 2008 to January 2013) were retrospectively enrolled. Clinical characteristics such as medication, pulmonary function, BMD, and results of polysomnography were analyzed.
Results:
The BMD in those with OSA was significantly lower than in those without OSA (-1.99±1.63 versus -1.27±1.14, P=0.045). In univariate analysis, body mass index, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, percentage of predicted value, incremental shuttle walk test, apnea-hypopnea index, and oxygen desaturation index (ODI) were significantly associated with BMD. After multivariate linear regression analysis, the ODI was still an independent factor for BMD. In addition, smaller total lung capacity is significantly associated with higher ODI and lower BMD, which implies that lower BMD might cause severer OSA via decreased total lung capacity.
Conclusion:
OSA may be an independent factor for BMD in patients with COPD, which implies a possible vicious cycle takes place in these patients.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Sleep Apnea
The condition is more prevalent among...
Bone Disorders
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-IV: Assessement and Diagnostic Studies
Medical History
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Smoking is a primary risk factor for COPD, with over 80% of patients having a history of it. Patients typically experience progressive dyspnea or labored breathing, frequent coughing, and recurrent pulmonary infections. Many eventually succumb to respiratory failure, characterized by...
Other Pulmonary Disorders
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease III: Chronic Bronchitis Features

