title: Prevalence of Bone Mineral Density Abnormalities and Factors Affecting Bone Density in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Southern India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a disease of wasting with airflow limitation, associated with a variety of systemic manifestations such as reduced Bone Mineral Density (BMD). There is a paucity of Indian studies on the effects of COPD on BMD.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis in COPD patients and the correlation between bone density and severity of COPD classified according to GOLD Global initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung Disease guidelines (GOLD).
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study of 60 patients diagnosed to have COPD, was conducted in the outpatient department of Respiratory Medicine, at a tertiary care hospital in Southern India, between September 2012 and September 2013. BMD was measured using ultrasound bone densitometer (ACHILLES GE HEALTH CARE). Patients with a T-score between -1 and -2.5 were considered to be osteopenic while patients with a T score less than -2.5 were considered to be osteoporotic (WHO criteria).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 40 (67%) patients had an abnormal bone mineral density. A total of 21 (35%) patients were osteoporotic while 19 (33%) were osteopenic. BMD levels correlated with severity of obstruction (p<0.001), smoking status (p=0.02), age (p=0.05) and number of pack years (p=0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with COPD are at an increased risk for lower BMD and osteoporotic fractures and the risk appears to increase with disease severity. Further studies are required to assess whether routine BMD measurements in COPD patients is beneficial to diagnose osteoporosis and reduce morbidity.
authors: Assistant Professor, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Meenakshi Medical College Hospital and Research Institute , Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India .
authors: Krishnappriya
authors: K
authors: Ramachandran
authors: Senior Resident, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Saveetha Medical College , Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India .
authors: Sathish Kumar
authors: SK
authors: Mani
authors: Professor, Department of Geriatrics, Christian Medical College and Hospital , Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India .
authors: Gopinath Kango
authors: GK
authors: Gopal
authors: Professor, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Meenakshi Medical College Hospital and Research Institute , Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors: Srinivasan
authors: S
authors: Rangasami
keywords: FEV1; Osteopenia; Osteoporosis