Patients with COPD are frequently treated with inhaled corticosteroids. However, the impact of inhaled corticosteroid use on fracture risk remains unclear in these patients. This nested case-control study examines the association between inhaled corticosteroid use and non-vertebral fractures in Veterans Affairs patients with COPD. From a cohort of 40,157 patients with a COPD diagnosis between October 1, 1998 and September 30, 1999 and that used services in the preceding 12-month period but did

more »

... ot have a COPD diagnosis, 1708 cases with non-vertebral fractures were identified and matched to 6817 controls. Patients were 94% male and average age was 62.7 years. Inhaled corticosteroid exposure was identified through prescription records and converted to beclamethasone equivalents. In conditional logistic regression models, exposure to inhaled corticosteroids at any time during follow-up was not associated with an increased fracture risk (Adjusted Odds Ratio=0.97; 95% CI, 0.84 to 1.11). However, current high dose inhaled corticosteroid users (≥700 µg per day) had an increased risk of fractures compared to patients with no exposure (Adjusted Odds Ratio=1.68; 95% CI, 1.10 to 2.57). In patients with COPD, current use of high dose inhaled corticosteroids was associated with an increased risk of nonvertebral fractures. Abstract Word Count: 194