Alteration of bone mineral density in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Objective To investigate the alteration of bone mineral density(BMD),pulmonary function,blood gas analysis and nutritional state in moderate and severe patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD),and to explore the relationship between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and osteoporosis.Methods Forty-three patients with COPD and forty controls were studied.Body mass index(BMI),BMD,total protein,albumin,biochemical index relative to the bone formation in blood were measured and analyzed.Results BMD at L2-L4 and left hip which includes fenur neck,fenur GT,InterTro in patients with COPD were significantly lower than those in controls(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).BMI,album of patients with COPD decreased obviously than those in control(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).BMD at fenur neck and L2-L4 of patients with respiratory failure was lower than that of non-respiratory failure patients(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).The incidence of osteoporosis in moderate and severe patients with COPD were much higher than that of the controls(all P＜0.05).Conclusions The reduction of BMI,BMD are more conspicuous than those of the controls.Also there are differences in BMI between respiratory failure patients and non-respiratory failure patients.COPD would be considered as a whole body disease,which can effect the entirety through a great number of sectors. Key words: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Osteoporosis; Bone mineral density; Blood gas analysis; Pulmonary function