Relationship between pulmonary function and osteoporosis in pre- and postmenopausal women

Abstract EN

Background: Osteoporosis is the most common metabolic bone disease and is characterized by a reduction in the mass of bone per unit volume to a level below that required for adequate mechanical support function.

This study aimed at studying the relationships between pulmonary function and osteoporosis in pre- and postmenopausal women.

Methods: Ninety seven nonsmoking women (50 premenopausal and 47postmenopausal) were included into this double-blind, prospective study.

Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.

Pulmonary function and anthropometric parameters were measured using a spirometer and a regular scale respectively.

Results: Lumbar spine and proximal femur BMD in postmenopausal women with Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1) <90.0% and Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) <4.92 l/s were significantly lower than those of the subjects with FEV1 >90.0% and PEFR >4.92 l/s (P < 0.05).

The prevalence of osteoporosis at the sites of lumbar spine and proximal femur were significantly higher than those at the corresponding sites in the postmenopausal women with FEV1 >90 % and PEFR >4.92 l/s (P < 0.05).

Lumbar spine and proximal femur BMDs had significant correlations with FEV1 (r = 0.34, P < 0.05; r = 0.36, P < 0.05) and PEFR (r = 0.37, P < 0.05; r = 0.31, P < 0.05) in postmenopausal women.

No significant correlations were observed in premenopausal women.

Conclusion: Osteoporosis was more frequently observed in postmenopausal women with reduced pulmonary function.

Poor pulmonary function may be an indicator of postmenopausal women at increased risk of osteoporosis.