Osteoporosis in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) not only have a disease that disorders the lung function, but they always run a higher risk of getting other diseases, such as osteoporosis. . Half of all COPD patients that are monitored by a lung specialist turn out to have osteoporosis, independently from the seriousness of the COPD. Most COPD patients with osteoporosis, however, do not take medication to reduce the risk of fractures, which indicates unfamiliarity with the phenomenon among (lung) specialists. This awareness has to be awakened. The underlying factors that increase the risk of osteoporosis in COPD patients have not yet been clarified. This dissertation points among others in the direction of a lower body weight and lower fat free mass, vitamin D shortage and a lower bone density of the hip. Follow-up research, however, will have to confirm or invalidate this.