Association of asthma with osteopenia, osteoporosis, osteomalacia, and fractures

Background: Previous studies that examined the relationship between asthma, osteoporosis, and pathologic fractures found conflicting results. Objective: To determine whether asthma is associated with osteopenia, osteoporosis, osteomalacia, and fractures in U.S. adults. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 198,102,435 children and adults, including 10,129,307 with asthma, from the 2006-2012 National Emergency Department Sample, which includes a representative 20% sample of emergency department (ED) visits throughout the United States. Results: ED visits of patients with versus without asthma were associated with higher odds of osteopenia (7 of 7 years: multivariable logistic regression of all years pooled; adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.45 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.41-1.50]), osteoporosis (7 of 7 years: aOR 1.85 [95% CI, 1.82-1.88]), osteomalacia (7 of 7 years: aOR 2.00 [95% CI, 1.61-2.49]), and pathologic fractures (7 of 7 years: OR 1.24 [95% CI, 1.20-1.27]). Patients with asthma and with long-term glucocorticoid use had higher odds of osteoporosis, osteopenia, osteomalacia, and fractures compared with patients with asthma and without long-term glucocorticoid use. Patients with asthma and with fractures incurred significantly more inpatient admissions, and higher costs of ED and inpatient care. Conclusion: ED visits with asthma were associated with osteopenia, osteoporosis, osteomalacia, and pathologic fractures.