Male Smokers Are At Greater Risk Of Osteoporosis

Research into middle-aged to elderly smokers shows that more men than women could be exposed to the progressive bone disease, osteoporosis, and fractures of the vertebrae.

Even though recent rules do not support osteoporosis screening for men, the new findings show that both male and female smokers should be tested to identify low bone density, according to indianexpress.com.

The researchers found that smoking history and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) posed risks that could lead to low bone density among both genders, according to freepressjournal.

Scientists assessed 3,321 current and former smokers between 45 to 80 years. The findings showed that men accounted for 55 percent of smokers who showed low bone density, while 60 percent of them exhibited vertebral fractures.

Low-bone density increased along with worsening COPD, going up to 84 percent among severe COPD patients of both genders, according to the survey.

Even as smoking at present is understood to be a risk factor for osteoporosis, smoking history as well as COPD are not the important criteria for bone-density screening.

"Our findings suggest that current and past smokers of both genders should be screened for osteoporosis," said Elizabeth Regan, assistant professor of medicine at the National Jewish Health in the US. "Expanding screening to include men with a smoking history and starting treatment in those with bone disease may prevent fractures, improve quality of life and reduce health care costs."

 "The growing use of CT scans to screen heavy smokers for lung cancer may provide an opportunity to use the same scans for bone density screening in this high-risk population," Regan pointed out.

The study was published online in the journal Annals of the American Thoracic Society.