Abstract: AIM: To explore the prevence of osteopenia and osteoporosis and to determine the risk factors in ashmatic patients receiving inhaled corticosteroids (ICS)for more than one year.METHODS: The study was conducted from August 2007 to July 2011. Asthmatic patients who had been on ICS for at least one year (test group) and a control group of subjects not on ICS were included and all the included patients were more than 18 years. BMD was measured using DEXA (dual energy X-ray absorptiometry) scan. Osteopenia and osteoporosis was evaluated by the WHO classification of T-score. The levels of serum bone ga protein(BGP)and alkaline phosphatase (AKP) were detected by radio immunoassay.RESULTS: All the subjects were 149 patients. Test group who had been on ICS were 69 subjects and control group were 74 subjects.The levels of BGP in test group and control were (3.8±2.4), (2.7±1.4) μg/L, respectively,and there was no significant difference between two groups. The levels of AKP were (126±68),(119±66) U/L in test group and control, respectively and they also had not significant difference. T-score of the spine, femur, and hip of the asthmatics vs the control subjects were mean, -0.72 vs -0.57 (P=0.98); mean, -0.60 vs -0.80 (P=0.474); and mean, 0.19 vs 0.06 (P=0.275); respectively. T-scores of the spine, femur, and hip showed significantly negative correlation with age and significantly positive correlation with body mass index (BMI).CONCLUSION: The risk factors of osteopenia and osteoporosis are older age and lower body mass index (BMI),not the cumulatively inhaled corticosteroids in asthmatic patients.There are not other risk factors of osteopenia and osteoporosis inpatients inhaled corticosteroids when compared with control.

Key words: Asthma, Bone mineral density, Bone metabolism, Inhaled corticosteroids