Asthma Medications Increase the Risk of Bone Loss: Study

Oral medications given to asthma patients reduce bone density, according to a study.

According to the data by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 25 million Americans are affected with asthma and the number is said to be increasing yearly. It accounts for nearly $56 billion in annual expenditure on treatment, medical expenses and loss of pay or work days.

South Korean researchers say that asthma patients are at increased risk of mineral loss in lumbar spine and femur or the thigh bone that leads to osteoporosis in later years. This was mainly attributed to the intake of corticosteroids that contain steroid hormones and are used in the treatment for joint pain, allergic reactions, asthma, hepatitis and inflammatory bowel syndrome.  Their study involved more than 7,000 participants with 433 diagnosed with airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR) or asthma to monitor the drug induced variations in bone thickness.

It was observed the lumbar spine and thigh bone density was notably lesser in asthmatics compared to healthy subjects. However, the study could not accurately determine exact reasons for the reduction of bone thickness. But, the researchers cited factors like amount of corticosteroids use, vitamin D levels and even race or ethnicity as reasons for reduction of bone mass.

"We know prolonged use of corticosteroids in the treatment of asthma is a risk factor of osteoporosis, but we haven't had definite data showing the relationship between asthma itself and bone loss," said Jae-Woo Jung, study author in a press release. "This study has shown a meaningful association between the two conditions even in the absence of previous oral corticosteroid use."

The American college of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) warns against excessive consumption of oral corticosteroids that cause undesired difficulties like osteoporosis. The agency recommends health care officials and allergists to prescribe the corticosteroids drugs available as nasal sprays in low quantities instead of oral medicines.

"Asthma is a serious disease that can be life-threatening. It is important that those with asthma and other breathing problems continue their prescribed treatment. It is also imperative that allergists discuss the potential of the disease itself or as a consequence of therapy in asthma sufferers," said John Oppenheimer, an allergist and researcher at the ACAAI.

The findings are published online in the journal Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.