Radiographic measure of aorta calcification is a site‐specific predictor of bone loss and fracture risk at the hip

• Published in: Journal of internal medicine Vol. 259; no. 6; pp. 598 - 605
• Main Authors: BAGGER, Y. Z., TANKÓ, L. B., ALEXANDERSEN, P., QIN, G., CHRISTIANSEN, C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.06.2006; Blackwell Science
• Subjects: Absorptiometry, Photon; Age Factors; Aged; Aorta, Abdominal; Aortic Diseases - complications; atherosclerosis; Atherosclerosis (general aspects, experimental research); Atherosclerosis - complications; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Body Mass Index; Bone Density; Calcinosis - complications; Calcinosis - diagnostic imaging; Cardiology. Vascular system; Epidemiologic Methods; Female; General aspects; Hip Fractures - diagnostic imaging; Hip Fractures - etiology; Humans; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; osteoporosis; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal - complications; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal - diagnostic imaging; postmenopausal women; prospective study; Spinal Fractures - etiology; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Cardiovascular disease; Risk; Fracture; Epidemiology; Vascular disease; Prospective; Site specificity; Osteoporosis; Atherosclerosis; Postmenopause; Adult; Aorta; Female; Woman; Quantitative analysis; Human; Radiodiagnosis; postmenopausal women; Loss; Prediction; Exploration; Trauma; Hip; Radiography; prospective study; Risk factor; Calcification; Bone; Predictive factor
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2796.2006.01640.x
• ISSN: 0954-6820

. Objective.  To investigate whether aorta calcification (AC) – a surrogate marker of atherosclerosis – is an independent indicator of low bone mass density (BMD), accelerated bone loss, and risk of future fractures in postmenopausal women. Design.  A prospective epidemiological study. Follow‐up period was 7.5 years. Setting.  Community‐based sample followed by a research institute. Subjects.  A total of 2662 generally healthy postmenopausal women with a mean age of 65.0 ± 7.1 years at baseline. Main outcome measures.  Annual rate of changes in BMD (DEXA) and AC (X‐rays), vertebral fractures (X‐rays), hip fractures (questionnaire). Results.  Advanced AC at baseline was significantly associated with lower BMD and accelerated bone loss from the proximal femur. In a multivariate logistic regression model, age (OR 1.1, 95% CI 1.0–1.2, P = 0.02), body mass index (BMI; OR 0.9, 95% CI 0.8–1.0, P = 0.03) and the severity of AC (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.1–4.8, P = 0.03) were independent predictors of hip fractures. Adjusted OR for vertebral fracture was 1.2 (95% CI 1.0–1.5, P = 0.12). Conclusions.  Aorta calcification seems to independently contribute to the development of osteoporosis in the proximal femur. Further studies are needed to clarify whether effective atherosclerosis prevention lowers hip fracture risk.