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Is vascular calcification associated with bone mineral density and osteoporotic fractures in ambulatory, elderly women?

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Abstract

Summary

We analyzed the relationship between aortic calcification and two osteoporotic parameters (bone mineral density (BMD) and incident osteoporotic fractures) in 667 ambulatory, elderly women from the Epidemiology of Osteoporosis (EPIDOS) cohort (mean age, 80 years; range, 72–94 years). We did not find any correlation between the aortic calcification score and BMD or osteoporotic fractures.

Introduction

The aging process is associated with osteoporosis and aortic calcification; conditions which may have similar disease mechanisms. However, the relationship between these two settings remains to be elucidated. We analyzed the relationship between aortic calcification and osteoporotic parameters (BMD and incident osteoporotic fractures) in a cohort of ambulatory, elderly women.

Methods

The study included 667 ambulatory women from the EPIDOS cohort (mean age, 80 years; age range, 72–94 years). The baseline examination included bone investigations, a clinical and functional examination, and a comprehensive questionnaire on health status and lifestyle. Semiquantitative methods were used to determine the abdominal aortic calcification score on baseline radiographs. Incident fractures were recorded via postal questionnaires issued every 4 months for about 4 years.

Results

Five hundred three women (75%) had aortic calcification. The mean aortic calcification score was 5.5 (median, 4). During the follow-up period, 186 (28%) women reported one or more incident osteoporotic fractures. We did not find any correlation between the aortic calcification score on one hand and the BMD or the occurrence of incident osteoporotic fractures on the other. Only age and systolic blood pressure were found to be independently associated with the aortic calcification score. Osteoporotic fractures were independently associated with age and BMD.

Conclusions

Osteoporosis and aortic calcification appear to be independent processes in a cohort of ambulatory, elderly women. However, potential confounding factors may be present and prospective studies are needed to investigate this situation further.

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Conflicts of interest

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. INSERM ERI-12 (EA 4292) Jules Verne University of Picardy, Amiens, France

    E. Flipon, S. Liabeuf, P. Fardellone, R. Mentaverri, F. Grados, S. Kamel, Z. A. Massy & M. Brazier

  2. Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Clinical Research Centre, Amiens University Hospital, Avenue René Laennec, Amiens, 80054, France

    S. Liabeuf & Z. A. Massy

  3. Jules Verne University of Picardy, Amiens, France

    S. Liabeuf, P. Fardellone, R. Mentaverri, T. Ryckelynck, S. Kamel, Z. A. Massy & M. Brazier

  4. Division of Rheumatology, Amiens University Medical Center, Amiens, France

    P. Fardellone, T. Ryckelynck & F. Grados

  5. INSERM, UMR S953, Epidemiological Research Unit in Perinatal Health and Women’s and Children’s Health, Villejuif, France

    P. Dargent-Molina

  6. Pierre and Marie Curie University of Paris 6, UMR S953, Paris, France

    P. Dargent-Molina

  7. Laboratory of Biochemistry, Amiens University Medical Center, Amiens, France

    S. Kamel

  8. Division of Nephrology, Amiens University Medical Center, Amiens, France

    Z. A. Massy

  9. Laboratory of Endocrine and Bone Biology, Amiens University Medical Center, Amiens, France

    M. Brazier

Authors
  1. E. Flipon
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  2. S. Liabeuf
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  3. P. Fardellone
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  4. R. Mentaverri
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  5. T. Ryckelynck
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  6. F. Grados
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  7. S. Kamel
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  8. Z. A. Massy
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  9. P. Dargent-Molina
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  10. M. Brazier
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. Liabeuf.

Additional information

E. Flipon and S. Liabeuf contributed equally to this study.

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Flipon, E., Liabeuf, S., Fardellone, P. et al. Is vascular calcification associated with bone mineral density and osteoporotic fractures in ambulatory, elderly women?. Osteoporos Int 23, 1533–1539 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-011-1762-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-011-1762-3

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