Pavol Pobeha, Pavol Joppa, Ružena Tkáčová
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with an increased risk of various severe comorbidities, i.e. accelerated atherosclerosis and its complications, osteoporosis, cachexia, loss of muscle mass, depression, type 2 diabetes and anaemia. These comorbidities are often linked to worsening of the exercise capacity, reduction of quality of life and increased mortality in patients with COPD. Osteopenia is present in 25 ‒ 72 %, osteoporosis in 36 ‒ 60 % of COPD patients. The etiopathogenesis of COPD is complex, and encompasses decondition with reduced physical activity resulting from dyspnoea, loss of muscle mass, changes in body composition, systemic inflammation and hypogonadism, as well as consequences of the COPD therapy (systemic corticosteroids in acute COPD exacerbations). Osteoporosis leads in patients with COPD to increased risk of fractures that further worsen physical performance and quality of life. In the present work we review current state-of the art information regarding the epidemiology, etiopathogenesis, clinical correlates and therapeutical interventions in osteoporosis in COPD.