COPD: osteoporosis and sarcopenia

Abstract

Systemic involvement and comorbidities are common in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). They add to the burden of disease and are associated with significant disability and mortality. These include cardiovascular disease, mood disorders, anemia, cachexia, skeletal muscle dysfunction and bone pathology. In this article, we review the pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of two such comorbidities, osteoporosis and sarcopenia, as they relate to patients with COPD.