The diagnosis of osteoporosis was based on BMD and vertebral fractures. Cases (n = 49) were matched for gender, age and forced expiratory volume in the first second to controls (n = 49). We assessed pulmonary function, body composition, vitamin D, emphysema score (by high-resolution computer tomography), medical history and medication use in all patients. Variables that were significantly different between the cases and controls were included in a logistic regression analysis.
COPD patients with osteoporosis had a significantly lower body mass index (BMI) and higher residual volume as the percentage of total lung capacity (RV%TLC) compared to COPD patients without osteoporosis. Decreasing BMI and increasing RV%TLC increased the odds ratio for osteoporosis. Overweight and obese BMI values were protective for osteoporosis.
Screening for osteoporosis should be performed even in moderate COPD patients, especially in those with a low BMI and/or a high RV%TLC.