Inhaled Steroids Do Not Decrease Bone Mineral Density But Increase Risk of Fractures: Data from the GIUMO Study Group

Sosa, M.; Saavedra, P.; Valero, C.; Guañabens, N.; Nogués, X.; del Pino-Montes, J.; Mosquera, J.; Alegre, J.; Gómez-Alonso, C.; Muñoz-Torres, M.; Quesada, M.; Pérez-Cano, R.; Jódar, E.; Torrijos, A.; Lozano-Tonkin, C.; Díaz-Curiel, M.; the GIUMO Study Group,

doi:10.1016/j.jocd.2005.11.005

« Previous Next »Journal of Clinical Densitometry
Volume 9, Issue 2 , Pages 154-158, April 2006

Inhaled Steroids Do Not Decrease Bone Mineral Density But Increase Risk of Fractures: Data from the GIUMO Study Group

M. Sosa
- Address correspondence to: Manuel Sosa, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Hospital University Insular, Bone Metabolic Unit, Apartado 550, 35080 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain.
P. Saavedra
C. Valero
N. Guañabens
X. Nogués
J. del Pino-Montes
J. Mosquera
J. Alegre
C. Gómez-Alonso
M. Muñoz-Torres
M. Quesada
R. Pérez-Cano
E. Jódar
A. Torrijos
C. Lozano-Tonkin
M. Díaz-Curiel
the GIUMO Study Group
- Other members of the GIUMO Group: J. González-Macías, J. M. Olmos, A. Díez, L. Corral, A. Castro, B. Álvarez, J. Cannata, A. Rodríguez, M. Rodríguez, G. Alonso, P. Mezquita, M. A. Lara, B. García, M. J. Gómez de Tejada, R. Pérez Temprano, F. Hawkins, G. Martínez Díaz-Guerra, C. Villasante, E. Hernández, D. Hernández, and J. Sarmiento.

Canary Islands, Spain

Received 22 July 2005; received in revised form 25 October 2005; accepted 27 November 2005.

Abstract

Although the negative effect of systemic steroids on bone is well documented, there is not clear evidence about possible adverse effects of inhaled steroids on bone metabolism and fractures. A cross-sectional study was performed on 105 women suffering from bronchial asthma treated with inhaled steroids and 133 controls. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by quantitative ultrasonography (QUS) at the calcaneus and by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), at both the lumbar spine and proximal femur. Patients suffering from bronchial asthma showed no statistically significant changes in BMD as measured by DXA or QUS, compared with controls. A higher prevalence of fractures was found in the group of women with bronchial asthma, with an age-adjusted odds ratio of 2.79 (95% CI: 1.19−6.54). Inhaled steroids do not appear to decrease BMD, but are associated with an increased risk of fracture in women.

Key Words: Asthma, bone mineral density, fractures, inhaled steroids, quantitative ultrasonography, women