Management of osteoporosis in patients with inhaled glucocorticoids

Abstract

Inhaled glucocorticoids are the standard of therapy in asthma and are commonly prescribed for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Accumulating evidence suggests that the effect of inhaled glucocorticoids on bone is not small, especially in patients taking moderate or high doses for long periods of time. The risk of adverse events is likely to differ between inhaled glucocorticoids. Inhaled glucocorticoids should be used widely, since they reduce the need of oral corticosteroids and improve respiratory function, but that they need to be managed carefully to minimize the risk of fracture with long-term use. This article described the effects of inhaled glucocorticoids on bone and fracture risk.