Shaheen MS, et al. - Using the 2006-2012 National Emergency Department Sample, which involves a representative 20% sample of emergency department (ED) visits throughout the US, researchers undertook this cross-sectional analysis, wherein, they analyzed a total of 198,102,435 children and adults, including 10,129,307 with asthma, to investigate if asthma is related to osteopenia, osteoporosis, osteomalacia, and fractures in US adults. They found ED visits with asthma were related to osteopenia, osteoporosis, osteomalacia, and pathologic fractures. Higher odds of osteopenia and pathologic fractures were evident in relation to ED visits of patients with vs without asthma. Higher odds of osteoporosis, osteopenia, osteomalacia, and fractures were reported among patients with asthma and with long-term glucocorticoid use, relative to those with asthma and without long-term glucocorticoid use. Significantly more inpatient admissions, as well as higher expenses of ED and inpatient care, were reported in cases with asthma and with fractures.