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Factors associated with osteoporosis in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-a nationwide
Abstract:
The present study aimed to identify the factors associated with osteoporosis in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Taiwan. The study found that female sex, old age, and use of a high dose of oral corticosteroids were significantly associated with osteoporosis in these patients.
Introduction:
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is becoming an increasingly serious and prevalent issue worldwide. The treatment of COPD with long-term steroid use may cause osteoporosis and have significant influences on disability and mortality. However, few studies have evaluated the association between steroid use and osteoporosis in patients with COPD. The present study aimed to identify the factors, including demographic characteristics and steroid use (oral corticosteroids [OCSs], inhaled corticosteroids, and injected steroids), associated with osteoporosis in patients with COPD in Taiwan.
Methods:
This was a retrospective case-control study. Data were obtained from the National Health Insurance Research Database from 1997 to 2009. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to identify the factors associated with osteoporosis.
Results:
The incidence of osteoporosis in the patients with COPD was 1343.0 per 100,000 person-years, the majority of patients were women (63.6 %), and the mean age of the patients was 72.5 years. In multivariate regression analysis, female sex, old age, and use of a high OCS dose with a defined daily dose (DDD) >56 (hazard ratio 1.85, 95 % confidence interval 1.52-2.26, P < .0001) exhibited significant independent associations with osteoporosis.
Conclusions:
Female sex, old age, and use of a high OCS dose with a cumulative DDD >56 are associated with osteoporosis in patients with COPD. Additionally, female patients >50 years old and male patients >70 years old have a higher risk of osteoporosis. Medical personnel should actively provide health education for the prevention of osteoporosis in these patients.
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