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The relationship between degenerative changes and osteoporosis in the lumbar spine.

Degenerative changes in the spine, specifically disc degeneration and facet arthrosis, and osteoporosis are conditions that primarily affect the elderly and may significantly impact the quality of life. The relationship between osteoporosis and degenerative changes in the hip joint has been studied, but their correlation in the spine is not entirely clear. Two hundred ninety-four subjects older than 50 years of age were retrospectively studied for the existence of lumbar spinal degeneration and osteoporosis through radiologic examination for 3 clinical manifestations: (1) disc degeneration, (2) facet joint arthrosis, and (3) lumbar osteoporosis. Peripheral osteoporosis in the distal radius of the nondominant hand was measured using a single-photon bone absorptiometer. Results indicated that subjects with severe osteoporosis in the distal radius also had severe degenerative changes in the discs and the facets; those with mild osteoporosis in the distal radius showed a tendency to have a lesser degree of degenerative changes than the subjects without osteoporosis.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Healing complications after internal fixation of trochanteric hip fractures: the prognostic value of osteoporosis.

In a 3-year prospective randomized trial, the prognostic value of osteoporosis in terms of predicting healing complications due to implant failures or loss of fracture reduction has been studied in 113 patients with inter-trochanteric hip fractures treated with either a sliding screwplate or Ender nailing. According to the Barnet and Nordin's osteoporosis index, 66 patients were considered to have moderate or severe osteoporosis. There were no differences between patients with or without osteoporosis as regards the number of fractures with collapse in varus > 10 degrees, redislocation > 10 mm, or compression exceeding 10 mm. Six months after surgery, 48 patients failed in healing or healed with complications. These cases disclosed increased osteoporosis in comparison with those showing noncomplicated healing. Patients with osteoporosis who had unstable fractures treated by Ender nailing were found to have the worst prognosis for healing complications (p = 0.006). Of the 33 fractures with implant failures, 25 (76%) occurred in patients with osteoporosis (p = 0.04). In patients with osteoporosis, the frequency of mechanical failures was significantly higher in fractures with the device positioned incorrectly. Independently of the device used, patients with unstable trochanteric hip fractures and osteoporotic bone were the group with the highest risk for failures of the implant.

Aged↗

Postmenopausal osteoporosis.

UNLABELLED: Osteoporosis affects approximately 28 million Americans and costs about $14 billion a year. Low bone density is the most important risk factor for osteoporosis. The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends bone density testing for all women over 65 and earlier (around the time of menopause) for women who have risk factors or who are considering therapy. Biochemical markers of bone remodeling, such as urine collagen cross links, may be useful to decide if treatment is needed and to determine the effectiveness of treatment. Once the diagnosis of osteoporosis is made, it is time to consider management options. A healthy life style is important for everyone: an adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D and regular weight-bearing exercise. Pharmacologic agents are indicated for all patients with fragility fractures and for many patients with low bone density. Estrogen is the agent of choice for both prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis; however, once estrogen is stopped, bone mass levels drop fairly quickly. Long-term adherence to hormone replacement therapy is not good. Effective alternatives for prevention of bone loss in recently menopausal women include alendronate (a bisphosphonate) and raloxifene (a selective estrogen-receptor modulator). Effective alternatives for treatment of established osteoporosis include alendronate and nasal calcitonin. TARGET AUDIENCE: Obstetricians & Gynecologists, Family Physicians LEARNING OBJECTIVES: After completion of this article, the reader will be able to understand the clinical impact and sequlae of osteoporosis in women, how to identify the high risk patient and those patient that should be screened, the various tests that are available for screening and monitoring, and the various pharmacologic therapies for osteoporosis.

Biomarkers↗

Improved strategies for diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis.

OBJECTIVE: Osteoporosis is a silent epidemic that afflicts millions of postmenopausal women around the world. Osteoporosis places an enormous economic burden on society, including significant morbidity and mortality. Because of the increasing numbers of patients with osteoporosis, primary care physicians have become the front line for the diagnosis and treatment of this condition. Thus, the primary care provider should be able to diagnose osteoporosis in both asymptomatic and symptomatic women, perform a thorough workup to exclude secondary causes of osteoporosis, and optimally prevent and treat osteoporosis using the various forms of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic therapies. DESIGN: Review of current literature and articles dealing with pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of osteoporosis. RESULTS: Diagnostic and therapeutic modalities can reduce the incidence of fractures. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis has greatly improved but needs further efforts to prevent the disease.

Age Distribution↗

Management of osteoporosis in patients with gastrointestinal diseases.

Osteoporosis is a frequent complication in the course of various gastrointestinal disorders. Since its pathogenesis is complex, and incompletely understood in comparison to the well-known pathomechanism of postmenopausal osteoporosis, adequate management is difficult. We first summarize those therapeutic options which have strong evidence in postmenopausal osteoporosis and, thereafter, we review those in the context of different gastrointestinal diseases. Treatment of the underlying intestinal disorder seems to be most important to normalise altered bone metabolism and to prevent osteoporosis in patients with coeliac disease. In patients with osteoporosis associated with Crohn's disease, various treatment strategies (such as vitamin D, sodium fluoride, bisphosphonates) are discussed. In contrast to postmenopausal osteoporosis, interventional studies in secondary osteoporosis are often limited by the small study population and data about the efficacy of any treatment in prevention of fractures are therefore lacking. Well-conducted, controlled studies with the endpoint of preventing fractures are therefore required to optimise the treatment of osteoporosis in these patients.

Bone and Bones↗

Perceptions of women with multiple sclerosis about osteoporosis follow-up.

Research has demonstrated that women with multiple sclerosis (MS) do not make maximum use of information about osteoporosis prevention and management, even when they are well-informed. Focus-group methodology and telephone interviews were used to study how women with MS use or could use information about osteoporosis prevention and management to influence their healthcare providers to attend to osteoporosis-related needs. Twenty-two participants were asked to discuss their own and their peers' experience of sharing osteoporosis screening results with healthcare providers, as well as factors they think might influence healthcare providers to attend to osteoporosis risk reduction. Using comparative content analysis, the transcribed data were clustered into seven thematic areas: women's need to educate themselves about osteoporosis; women's need to educate their healthcare providers about osteoporosis as well as other women's health issues; the need to case manage oneself; advocacy for self and others; skills and characteristics required to negotiate the system; strategies for health researchers and advocates to inform healthcare providers about health issues and health promotion of women with MS; and strategies for healthcare providers to inform women with disabilities about health issues and health promotion of women with MS. These themes suggest directions for the development of strategies to enable women with MS to influence their healthcare providers in osteoporosis prevention and management.

Female↗

Comprehensive osteoporosis management with easy access to bone mineral density measurements.

BACKGROUND: The majority of people with osteoporosis are never evaluated even though effective treatments are available. The County Council of Värmland in Sweden has implemented an osteoporosis management model that has been shown to be effective in promoting awareness and providing care for osteoporosis patients. Discussions among a prevention group on osteoporosis in the county council were opened in 1997. The county of Värmland covers a large area, and the distances from the peripheral parts to the main city are approximately 300 km and cumbersome for the inhabitants. The importance of having an osteoporosis service that could reach the county inhabitants in a convenient way was therefore recognized. METHODS: Three thousand four hundred patients were evaluated between March 2001 and December 2003. Guidelines for patient selection for bone density testing and treatment guidelines were formulated. Promoting awareness was an important prerequisite for the model to function. This was accomplished by having the measurement devices where the patients showed up and by regular education of the primary care doctors. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: A multidisciplinary team was established and consisted of primary care doctors, orthopaedic surgeons, internists, physiotherapists, a patient organization member, a county health care representative and nurses. Team members met every third month and agreed upon clinical guidelines for implementing the system. The presented osteoporosis management system is not a screening approach as all patients had risk factors for osteoporosis before they were suggested for bone density testing. This study shows that providing a comprehensive package of measures makes it possible to establish an effective osteoporosis management system with limited economical resources.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Study of osteoporosis awareness, investigation and treatment of patients discharged from a tertiary public teaching hospital.

BACKGROUND: Patients with fragility fractures secondary to osteoporosis are at risk of recurrent fracture. Osteoporosis is often underrecognized and undertreated. We looked at the levels of awareness, investigation and treatment of patients with fracture. METHODS: The study group included patients admitted to a tertiary teaching hospital. Postal surveys were sent to female patients over 60 years of age who had been identified in the hospital database as having International Classification of Diseases-10 codes for fracture and discharged between June 1997 and January 2002. The questionnaire had specific questions on the histories of the fractures, the risk factors, the awareness of osteoporosis, bone mineral density testing and the treatment for osteoporosis. RESULTS: Of 1584 surveys posted, 366 valid questionnaires were returned. The median age of respondents was 81 years with a range of 60-99 years. Fifty-nine per cent reported one fracture, 41% two or more fractures and 65% reported a hip fracture. Forty-eight per cent of patients were aware that they had osteoporosis and 35% reported having a bone density performed. Thirty-seven per cent reported being on treatment for osteoporosis on discharge, with the majority being on treatment with calcium (34%). CONCLUSION: This postal survey of a high-risk patient group discharged from a tertiary hospital confirm the findings from other population-based and hospital-based studies that a significant proportion of patients at risk of further fracture are not investigated or offered specific treatment for osteoporosis. Lack of awareness of underlying osteoporosis by both treating clinicians and patients is likely to be a major contributing factor.

Aged↗

Osteoporosis risk assessment and ethnicity: validation and comparison of 2 clinical risk stratification instruments.

BACKGROUND: Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), coupled with early treatment, may reduce morbidity and mortality associated with osteoporosis. Clinical tools to enhance selection of women for DXA screening have not been developed or validated in an ethnically diverse population. OBJECTIVE: To compare the performance of the osteoporosis risk assessment instrument (ORAI) and the simple calculated osteoporosis risk estimation (SCORE) instrument across 3 racial/ethnic groups to identify women who would benefit from DXA scans. DESIGN: Blinded comparison of the instruments in a cross-sectional sample. PARTICIPANTS: Two-hundred twenty-six postmenopausal women were recruited from a university-based family medicine clinic. Women with a prior diagnosis of osteoporosis or those taking bone active medications were excluded. MEASUREMENTS: Participants completed a questionnaire that contained the ORAI and the SCORE questions; 203 completed a DXA scan. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity for the ORAI (0.68, [0.49 to 0.88, 95% CI]; 0.66, [0.59 to 0.73, 95% CI]) and the SCORE instrument (0.54, [0.34 to 0.75, 95% CI]; 0.72, [0.65 to 0.78, 95% CI]) differed significantly from previous reports. Overall, the accuracy of the ORAI (66.5%) and SCORE instrument (70.0%) were similar (McNemar's test P value = .37). The accuracy between instruments differed significantly in African-American women (McNemar's test, P value <.001). In African Americans, the SCORE instrument correctly identified more women without osteoporosis, but missed 70% of those with osteoporosis. CONCLUSIONS: The performance of the ORAI and SCORE instrument differed significantly from previous reports. Although both can reduce the use of DXA scans for screening for osteoporosis, lower sensitivities resulted in underrecognition of osteoporosis and may limit their clinical usefulness in an ethnically diverse population.

Aged↗

Electronic medical record reminder improves osteoporosis management after a fracture: a randomized, controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: Osteoporosis treatment rates after a fracture are low. This study evaluated methods to increase guideline-recommended osteoporosis care postfracture. DESIGN: Participants were randomly assigned to usual care or one of two interventions. Analysis of primary outcomes used electronic data and linear regression. SETTING: A Pacific Northwest nonprofit health maintenance organization. PARTICIPANTS: Female patients aged 50 to 89 who suffered a fracture in 1999 and had not received bone mineral density (BMD) measurement or medication for osteoporosis (n=311) and their primary care providers (n=159). INTERVENTION: Patient-specific clinical guideline advice to the primary care provider delivered by electronic medical record (EMR) message or electronic reminder to the provider plus an educational letter mailed to the patient. MEASUREMENTS: BMD measurement and osteoporosis medication. RESULTS: At 6 months, provider reminder resulted in 51.5% of patients receiving BMD measurement or osteoporosis medication, provider reminder plus patient education resulted in 43.1%, and usual care resulted in 5.9% (P<.001). The effect of provider advice combined with patient education was not significantly different from provider advice alone (P=.88). Patients aged 60 to 69 were 18% (95% confidence interval=3-34) more likely to receive BMD measurement or an osteoporosis medication than those aged 80 to 89. CONCLUSION: Patient-specific postfracture advice to the provider through an EMR message significantly increased BMD measurement and osteoporosis medication. As EMRs become more widespread, this intervention could improve osteoporosis management for many postfracture patients. Future research should identify barriers to and facilitators of care for older, high-risk patients.

Aged↗

Rural women and osteoporosis: awareness and educational needs.

CONTEXT: Little is known about rural women's knowledge about osteoporosis. PURPOSE: To explore what women from high-prevalence rural communities know about osteoporosis and to assess their learning preferences. METHODS: We surveyed 437 women in rural Washington and Oregon. FINDINGS: The response rate was 93% (N = 406). The mean age of respondents was 63 years (range 16-95) and 74% (n = 301) of women were postmenopausal. While 27% over age 40 (n = 111) reported having a fracture as an adult, less than half of this group (42%, n = 47) considered themselves at risk for osteoporosis. Of the 42% (n = 171) who rated their knowledge of osteoporosis good or excellent, only 18% (n = 30) answered calcium and vitamin D questions correctly. About half (53%; n = 214) exercised 3 or more times per week. Reported sources of osteoporosis information included television, magazines, health care providers, and personal contacts. Over half of the women in this study wanted more information about osteoporosis, most wanted it before age 50, and health care providers were a preferred source. Less than half of participants reported having Internet access. CONCLUSIONS: While many participants underestimated their osteoporosis risk, most women wanted to learn more about osteoporosis and health care providers remain a preferred source of information.

Adolescent↗

[Calcaneous ultrasonography as measurement of osteoporosis prevalence in the general population in relation to the diagnostic criterion utilized. Data of the study GIUMO].

CONTEXT: In recent years, a large number of techniques have been developed to estimate the bone mineral density for the diagnosis of osteoporosis. However, diagnostic criteria established by WHO are invariably applied for the interpretation of dual radiological densitometry (DEXA), which could not be correct in the case of the interpretation of ultrasound. METHOD: We studied 2,589 randomly chosen people of both sexes, 1,138 males and 1,451 women from 10 to 99 years, in 11 spanish provinces. We carried out a measurement of the following calcaneous ultrasound parameters with the Sahara and Hologic devices: speed of the sound (SOS), coefficient of attenuation of wide band (BUA), index of consistency (QUI) and estimated bone mineral density (est. BMD). The prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis was calculated by applying the WHO criteria (osteopenia Tscore < or = 1 and osteoporosis Tscore < or = 2.5) and the prevalence of osteoporosis by applying a Tscore 1.8 as threshold. RESULTS: According to the WHO criteria, osteoporosis (Tscore < or = 2.5) is seen in 1.5 % males and 5.9 % females from 51 to 70 years, and in 2.6% males and 22.1% females over 70 years. Using a Tscore 1.8 as threshold, osteoporosis prevalence increases to 8.2% males and 21.9% females from 51 to 70 years, and to 8.4% males and 40.9% females over 70 years. CONCLUSION: Osteoporosis prevalence in spanish people of both sexes differs notably when applying the cut off point in a Tscore of 2.5, as WHO recommends, or in a Tscore of 1.8 as is suggested by other authors. Consensus is necessary to establish the appropriate cut off point or threshold for the diagnosis of osteoporosis with quantitative ultrasonography of calcaneum.

Adolescent↗

Hyperechoic plaque: an ultrasound marker for osteoporosis in acute stroke patients with carotid disease.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is a significant complication of stroke, and hip fracture after a stroke is a frequent problem. Moreover, growing evidence links vascular and bone diseases, in the form of osteoporosis associated with both atherosclerosis and vascular calcification. The aim of our study is to detect bone change in the acute phase of ischemic stroke in patients with carotid disease and to verify the correlation with carotid echogenic plaques. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Out of 245 subjects consecutively admitted to our Stroke Unit for their first ischemic stroke, we selected 49 patients with a first-ever stroke due to carotid atherosclerosis without a previous diagnosis of bone disease. We assessed risk factors for cerebrovascular disease as well as for osteoporosis, the degree of neurological deficit and disability, and bone mineral density that was quantified by bilateral hip dual energy X-ray absorbimetry. Osteoporosis was defined as a T score below -2.5. Carotid ultrasound was used to classify plaques in non-hyperechoic (grade 1) and hyperechoic plaque (grade 2). RESULTS: We found a high prevalence of low bone mass density (BMD) in our patients (18 out of 49=36.7%), without relationship to the side of paresis. According to univariate analysis evidence of osteoporosis was correlated with age (p=0.05), score of Scandinavian Stroke Scale (p=0.01) and grade 2 plaque (p=0.01). According to multivariate analysis, there was a significant positive correlation between grade 2 plaques and osteoporosis (OR=6.58; 95% CI=1.57-27.54; p=0.01), which was stronger in women (OR=18.15; 95% CI=1.80-182.83; p=0.01). The percentage of intraplaque hyperechogenicity was inversely correlated with BMD (r=-0.411, p=0.016). CONCLUSION: Osteoporosis is highly prevalent in acute atherosclerotic stroke patients. Carotid hyperechoic plaque is an independent marker of osteoporosis.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Meta-ERS: an exposome-based risk score using non-genetic factors to guide osteoporosis prevention.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors, yet the relative contribution of the exposome remains unclear. This study aimed to systematically identify non-genetic exposures related to osteoporosis and develop an exposome risk score (ERS) to evaluate individual osteoporosis susceptibility. METHODS: We conducted an exposome-wide analysis of 477,792 UK Biobank participants to identify key exposures associated with osteoporosis. The selected exposures were combined into a weighted Meta-ERS and validated in the Scotland/Wales cohort. The Meta-ERS was further compared with polygenic risk scores (PRS) and linked to plasma proteomics to explore underlying biological pathways. RESULTS: We identified 41 independent non-genetic exposures spanning socioeconomic status, mental health, sleep, diet, smoking, physical activity, environment, and marital status, with socioeconomic status and mental health emerging as the most significant drivers. Based on the identified exposures, we constructed eight domain-specific exposure risk scores and integrated them into a weighted Meta-ERS. The Meta-ERS (R2&#x2009;=&#x2009;5.1%; Proportion of Chi-Square&#x2009;=&#x2009;14.3%) demonstrated an ability to explain osteoporosis variation that was on par with polygenic risk scores (R2&#x2009;=&#x2009;4.8%; Proportion of Chi-Square&#x2009;=&#x2009;12.0%). Importantly, modifying unfavorable exposures mitigated the negative effect of PRS on osteoporosis, particularly among high PRS individuals (1.5- to 1.8-fold greater absolute risk reduction than in those with low PRS). Proteomic analyses further revealed potential mechanisms through which the exposome influences osteoporosis, including hormonal regulation, inflammation, ossification, muscle development, lipid metabolism, and accelerated bone aging. Among these, growth/differentiation factor 15 was identified as a key mediator protein, with a mediation proportion of 13.13%-36.52%. CONCLUSIONS: The Meta-ERS facilitates the quantification of individual osteoporosis risk and identifies modifiable exposures for targeted prevention. Its application can enable personalized risk stratification and guide lifestyle or environmental interventions.

Aged↗

Effects of projective bone area size of the spine on bone density and the diagnosis of osteoporosis in healthy pre-menopausal women in China.

The aim of this study was to understand the effects of projective bone area (BA) size of the spine on bone density and the diagnosis of osteoporosis. Measurements of BA, bone mineral content (BMC), areal bone density (aBMD) and volumetric bone density (vBMD) at the posteroanterior (PA) lumbar spine (vertebrae L2-L4) followed by a paired PA/lateral spine (L2-L4) were made using a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) fan-beam bone densitometer (Hologic QDR 4500A) in 1436 healthy pre-menopausal women aged from 20 to 56-years-old. At the PA and lateral lumbar spine, there was a significant positive correlation between BA and BMC (r=0.762 and 0.762, p=0.000) and aBMD (r=0.370 and 0.352, p=0.000), but not vBMD (r=0.000 and 0.102, p=0.813 and 0.063). When BA at the PA spine changed by one standard deviation (SD), BMC and aBMD correspondingly changed by 12.6% and 4.3% on the basis of their respective means while vBMD indicated no change. When a variation of 1 SD was observed in BA at the lateral spine, BMC, aBMD and vBMD correspondingly changed by 13.8%, 4.4% and 1.73% on the basis of their respective means. Through an intercomparison among large, intermediate and small BA groups, significant differences were found in the means of subject's height, weight, BMC and aBMD at the PA and lateral spine as well as the detection rate of osteoporosis by aBMD (p=0.000). Detection rates of osteoporosis by aBMD at the PA, lateral spine and vBMD in healthy pre-menopausal women aged from 40 years to 56 years were 4.5%, 16.4% and 9.7%, respectively, in the small BA group; 1.3%, 6.4% and 7.3%, respectively, in the intermediate BA group; and 0, 0 and 5.5%, respectively, in the large BA group. No significant differences were found in the detection rates of osteoporosis by vBMD among the groups. The results of multiple linear regression revealed that the major factors influencing BA of the lumbar spine was height. In healthy pre-menopausal women of the same race and age, the BA size of the lumbar spine would have significant influence upon aBMD and the diagnosis of osteoporosis, i.e. the larger the BA, the greater the aBMD and the lower the osteoporosis detection rate while conversely, the smaller the BA, the smaller the aBMD and the higher the osteoporosis detection rate. Though vBMD does not change with BA sizes of the lumbar spine, it is a sensitive marker for diagnosing osteoporosis.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Risk status related to knowledge of osteoporosis in older women.

BACKGROUND: The objectives of this study were to: (1) identify common risk factors for osteoporosis, (2) relate risk factors to knowledge of osteoporosis, and (3) teach prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies for women at risk. METHODS: A descriptive exploratory design was used to assess the osteoporosis risk factors of 211 women age 60 and over living in the community in a large city in a southwestern state. Participants in 15 different sites completed a demographic data form, an osteoporosis Risk Factor Card, and a pre-test about osteoporosis. After participating in a 30-minute educational program, they completed a post-test. RESULTS: The mean score on the Risk Factor Card was 3.00 out of a total possible score of 11. The most frequent risk factors identified were race, small frame, and early menopause. Using a two-tailed Pearson correlation, there was no significant correlation between being at risk and a person's knowledge of osteoporosis prior to or after the educational program. Using a one-tailed t-test, there was a significant increase in knowledge from pre-test to post-test. CONCLUSION: Additional educational programs might increase awareness of risk factors and behaviors likely to enhance bone health. All older women should be encouraged to initiate discussion regarding osteoporosis with their health care providers. Physicians, nurses, social workers, and others also should assess their client's knowledge of osteoporosis.

Aged↗

The genetics of osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a common health problem among the elderly, especially postmenopausal women. It is characterized by fragile bones susceptible to low-trauma fractures. Osteoporosis is a complex disease determined by genetic and environmental factors, as well as the possible interactions among these factors. Twin and family studies have shown that genetic factors play an important role in osteoporosis. Numerous genetic studies have been performed to hunt for genes underlying the disease risk. In this review, we briefly summarize and discuss the current status of knowledge about osteoporosis, with special emphasis on the progress achieved recently in: 1) heritability and choice of osteoporosis study phenotypes; 2) the approaches for gene mapping and identification for osteoporosis; 3) the candidate gene association studies; 4) the linkage mapping studies for osteoporosis; 5) some potential explanations for the inconsistent results; and 6) the pharmacogenetic studies for osteoporosis.

Animals↗

Osteoporosis in diffuse parenchymal lung disease.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: There are no studies focused on skeletal status in patients with diffuse parenchymal lung disease (DPLD). We hypothesized that patients with DPLD referred for lung transplantation would have a high prevalence of osteoporosis related to corticosteroid use or reduced pulmonary function and exercise capacity. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary care center. PATIENTS: Eighty-six patients with DPLD referred to our center for lung transplantation evaluation between March 1999 and April 2004. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to measure bone mineral density (BMD) at the lumbar spine, femoral neck, total hip, and radius at the time of referral. Criteria developed by the World Health Organization were used to define osteopenia and osteoporosis. Fifty-five patients (64%) had usual interstitial pneumonia-pattern lung disease, 14 patients (16%) had nonspecific interstitial pneumonia-pattern lung disease, and 17 patients (20%) had other forms of DPLD. Sixty-four patients (74%) were receiving corticosteroids, and 43 patients (50%) were receiving preventive therapy for osteoporosis. Eleven patients (13%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 7 to 22%) met criteria for osteoporosis at any site, and 49 patients (57%; 95% CI, 46 to 68%) had osteopenia. Lower body mass index (BMI) [adjusted odds ratio (OR), 1.3; 95% CI, 1.1 to 1.6; p = 0.007] and Hispanic ethnicity (adjusted OR, 9.7; 95% CI, 1.8 to 52; p = 0.008) were independently associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis. Linear regression analysis confirmed that BMD at the femoral neck and hip was directly associated with BMI (p < 0.002). These findings were not affected by adjustment for the use of corticosteroids or osteoporosis prophylaxis, pulmonary function, or exercise performance. CONCLUSIONS: Reduced BMD was common in patients with DPLD who were referred for lung transplantation. Lower BMD was associated with lower BMI, whereas there was no association with other clinical factors in our cohort. Hispanic patients with DPLD had a higher risk of osteoporosis than non-Hispanic patients, independent of other variables. Given their increased risk of bone loss, patients with DPLD should undergo screening for osteoporosis and receive prophylaxis and treatment according to published guidelines.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗