Does autonomic dysfunction exist in postmenopausal osteoporosis?

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of autonomic dysfunction in patients with osteoporosis.

DESIGN

This is a prospective controlled trial. Sixteen postmenopausal female patients with osteoporosis and 10 age-matched postmenopausal nonosteoporotic controls were included in the study. Participants were divided into the postmenopausal osteoporosis group and the nonosteoporotic control group according to bone mineral densities. Heart rate variability parameters and sympathetic skin responses were studied to evaluate autonomic functions.

RESULTS

The latencies of sympathetic skin responses obtained from both hands were significantly increased in the patient group when compared with the control group. The sympathetic skin response amplitude of the right hands and both feet of the patient group were found to be decreased significantly when compared with that of the control group. A 24-hr high-frequency value was significantly decreased in the patient group than in control group. A 24-hr low-/high-frequency value was significantly higher in the patient group than in the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

Autonomic dysfunction characterized with increased sympathetic and decreased parasympathetic activity may be present in osteoporosis, and cardiac functions in patients with osteoporosis may also be affected by accompanying autonomic dysfunction.