Lee DW, et al. – Researchers attempted to assess differences in bone–mineral density (BMD) according to the presence of sarcopenia in each obstructive airway disease (OAD) phenotype. In asthma–COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS) phenotype, people with sarcopenia had a higher prevalence rate and higher risks of osteopenia and osteoporosis than those without sarcopenia among all OAD phenotypes.

Methods

• Five thousand five hundred sixty two were ≥50 years old and underwent qualified spirometry and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry among the research subjects in KNHANES IV and V (2008–2011).
• An aggregate of nine hundred forty seven subjects were incorporated into the examination: eighty nine had asthma, seven hundred forty eight COPD, and one hundred ten ACOS.

Results

• The results of this study showed that T-scores were lower in the sarcopenia group than the nonsarcopenia group in the COPD and ACOS phenotypes.
• Findings revealed that prevalence rates of osteopenia and osteoporosis were higher in the sarcopenia group than the nonsarcopenia group. (P<0.001 and P=0.017, respectively).
• It was noted that the sarcopenia group had higher risks of developing osteopenia, osteoporosis, and low BMD than the nonsarcopenia group in the ACOS phenotype (OR 6.620, 95% CI 1.129–38.828 [P=0.036], OR 9.611, 95% CI 1.133–81.544 [P=0.038], and OR 6.935, 95% CI 1.194–40.272 [P=0.031], respectively).
• In the asthma phenotype, the sarcopenia group demonstrated no increased risk compared with the nonsarcopenia group.