Incidence, prevalence, and predictors of osteoporotic fracture in adult lung transplant recipients

Background

As life expectancy following lung transplantation (LT) improves, vulnerability to glucocorticoid-induced osteoporotic fractures is increased. Our institution offers LT recipients protocolized antiresorptive therapy, with zoledronic acid (ZA) used first line.

Methods

Adults who underwent LT from January 2012 to December 2018 and survived at least 6 months were retrospectively studied. Coprimary outcomes were incidence, prevalence, and predictors of osteoporotic fractures and major osteoporotic fractures post-LT.

Results

Four hundred and five LT recipients (41% female, median age 59 years) had a median follow-up of 4.9 years (interquartile range 3.4-6.7). Osteoporotic fracture prevalence was 12% (n = 49) pre-LT and 15% (n = 60) post-LT. Major osteoporotic fracture post-LT occurred in 11% (n = 45). Antiresorptive therapy was received by 47% pre- and 89% post-LT. On multivariate analysis, risk factors for osteoporotic fracture were pre-LT osteoporotic fracture (hazard ratio (HR) 2.32 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.09-4.96)), female sex (HR 2.08 (95% CI 1.09-3.94)), glucocorticoid use pre-LT (HR 2.08 (95% CI 1.09-3.99)), and time (months) to first ZA infusion post-LT (HR 1.04 (95% CI 1.01-1.06)). Risk factors for major osteoporotic fracture were pre-LT osteoporotic fracture, female sex, age, and time to first ZA infusion.

Conclusion

LT recipients receiving protocolized antiresorptive treatment post-LT had a low incidence of osteoporotic fracture.