Published online May 6, 2020. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v8.i9.1574
Peer-review started: January 31, 2020
First decision: Februaey 28, 2020
Revised: March 26, 2020
Accepted: April 18, 2020
Article in press: April 18, 2020
Published online: May 6, 2020
Processing time: 112 Days and 19.9 Hours
Bone disease (osteopenia or osteoporosis) is a highly prevalent condition in society and presents a tremendous, preventable public health burden. Screening procedures, such as, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans, have allowed early identification and intervention to improve bone health, and reduce the risk of osteoporotic fractures, which carry significant morbidity and mortality. The association of bone disease has been recognized in several diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in established guidelines for screening in patients with malabsorptive disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease and celiac disease. Increasingly, the risk of bone disease has been recognized in patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP), who share similar risk factors as patients with other high gastrointestinal disorders. As a result, there have been a number of studies examining the prevalence and risks of bone disease and fractures in patients with CP. This review aims to summarize the recent literature and current recommendations related to bone disease in CP.
Core tip: Bone disease is prevalent in chronic pancreatitis. Routine assessment of risk factors and a baseline dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry to evaluate bone density is recommended for these patients to reduce the risk of fractures in this patient population.