Risk factors for osteoporosis in male patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Taiwan

Objective. To investigate the risk factors for osteoporosis in male Taiwanese patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods. This cross-sectional study evaluated male COPD outpatients and age-matched male subjects at a regional teaching hospital. The following data were obtained and analyzed: bone mineral density of the lumbar spine and hip on dual- energy X-ray absorptiometry, demographic characteristics, questionnaire interview results, pulmonary function test results, chest posterior-anterior radiographic findings, and biochemical and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels. Results. Fifty-nine male COPD patients and 36 age-matched male subjects were enrolled. COPD patients had lower body mass index (BMI) (23.6 ± 4.1 vs. 25.2 ± 3.0 kg/m²) and higher total prevalence for osteoporosis and osteopenia than controls. Among COPD patients, patients with osteoporosis had lower BMI, body weight, waist circumference, and triglyceride level but higher hs-CRP level, and tended to have lower creatinine level. Binary logistic regression analysis for factors including age, BMI, creatinine, hs-CRP, smoking, steroid use, and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) revealed that an hs-CRP level ≥5 and decreased creatinine level were independent risk factors for osteoporosis in COPD patients. Lower BMI tended to be associated with osteoporosis development, although it did not reach statistical significance, and hs-CRP was associated with COPD severity and steroid use history. Conclusion. The total prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia in male Taiwanese COPD patients is higher than that in age-matched male subjects and systemic inflammation is an independent risk factors for osteoporosis. Low creatinine level in COPD patients should raise the suspicion of sarcopenia and associated increased risk of osteoporosis.