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Review: inhaled corticosteroids for asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease do not increase bone loss

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 QUESTION: In patients with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), do inhaled corticosteroids increase bone fractures, reduce bone mineral density (BMD), or change specified biochemical markers?

Data sources

Studies were identified by searching Medline, EMBASE/Excerpta Medica, CINAHL, Science Citation Index, and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (to July 2001); searching key journals and bibliographies of relevant studies; and contacting authors and pharmaceutical companies.

Study selection

Studies in any language were selected if they were randomised controlled trials that compared inhaled corticosteroids with placebo in patients with or without a clinical diagnosis of asthma or COPD.

Data extraction

Data were extracted on patients, drug regimens, and outcomes. 2 reviewers independently assessed the quality of study methods.

Main results

7 studies met the selection criteria. 4 studies recruited patients with mild asthma or COPD (1870 patients, 67% men), and 3 studies recruited …

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Footnotes

  • Sources of funding: Wales Office of Research and Development for Health and Social Care; National Assembly for Wales, UK; Garfield Weston Foundation, UK.

  • For correspondence: Dr A Jones, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff, Wales, UK. research{at}gors.freeserve.co.uk