Decreased bone mineral density in inflammatory bowel disease: The prevalence and risk factors

Objective: The prevalence of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) has increased in recent decades. The incidence of osteoporosis in the population with IBD is higher than in the normal population. Therefore, it seems necessary to carefully examine the risk factors associated with decreased bone mineral density (BMD) among these patients.Methods and Materials: Patients with IBD completed a questionnaire including demographic data, drug history, underlying disease (past medical history), and family history, then their bone density was measured with a DEXA device. Also, laboratory samples were prepared. Densitometry results were placed in three groups: normal, osteoporotic, and osteopenia. All of the data was analyzed by SPSS version ۲۳ software.Results: This study was conducted on ۶۳ patients (۵۸ patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and ۵ patients with Crohn's disease (CD)). The bone density was normal in ۴۰ patients, ۱۶ had osteopenia and ۷ had osteoporosis. There was a significant relationship between bone density and age (P < ۰.۰۰۱), smoking (P=۰.۰۴۹), past medical history (P< ۰.۰۰۱), extraintestinal involvement (P=۰.۰۰۸), duration (P=۰.۰۲۳) and menopause (P=۰.۰۰۲). Also, the amount of use of corticosteroid drugs (P=۰.۰۱۴), the level of calcium (P=۰.۰۱۷), and vitamin D (P< ۰.۰۰۱) in the blood had a significant relationship with bone density.Conclusion: In our study, we showed that age, smoking status, underlying conditions, extraintestinal involvement, corticosteroid use, levels of vitamin D and calcium, and menopause are risk factors for an increased risk for decreased BMD in IBD patients.

Keywords:

Ulcerative colitis , Vitamin D , Crohn's disease , Bone densitometry