Risk factors associated with hepatic osteopathy in HBV related cirrhosis measured by liver stiffness: An Observational study

To investigate the differences in bone mineral density between patients with liver cirrhosis and healthy control, and to analyze the risk factors of hepatic osteoporosis in patients with HBV related liver cirrhosis. A total of 189 patients with liver cirrhosis and 207 health controls were enrolled. The bone mineral density of lumbar spine and femoral neck was examined by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. −2.0 <T value <−1.0 defined as osteopenia, T value ≤−2.0 defined as osteoporosis. Bone mineral density in the cirrhotic group was significantly lower than that in the control group (lumbar: 1.02 ± 0.16 vs 1.08 ± 0.13, P < .001; femoral neck: 0.86 ± 0.14 vs 0.91 ± 0.14, P < .001). Both 2 groups showed a tendency that decrease bone density correlated with age and decrease body mass index (BMI). Multivariate correlation analysis showed that women (OR = 6.931, P = .002), age (OR = 1.096, P < .001), low BMI (OR = 0.874, P = .037), and high liver stiffness value (OR = 1.125, P = .046) were independent risk factors for osteopenia and low body weight (OR = 0.934, P = .006) and high liver stiffness value (OR = 1.246, P = .034) were independent risk factors for osteoporosis. Our study shows that bone mineral density in patients with liver cirrhosis decreased significantly, especially in the elderly and low BMI patient. For HBV-related cirrhosis with risk factors, a regular bone density screening should be given, and timely intervention should be taken into consideration.