A comparative study of atherosclerosis and osteopenia in elderly and young hemodialysis patients.
The effects of aging on atherosclerosis and osteopenia in hemodialysis patients were investigated. Eighty patients on maintenance hemodialysis were subdivided according to age into old (greater than or equal to 65 years old, N = 40) and young (less than 65 years old, N = 40). Biochemical, radiologic, and biophysical studies were performed in each patient to assess the degree of atherosclerosis and osteopenia. Compared to age-matched controls, patients in the old group exhibited a significantly higher aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV), and old female patients had a significantly lower bone mineral content/bone width (BMC/W). Elderly patients also had a significantly higher aortic PWV and higher grade of aortic calcification as assessed radiologically; in contrast, the BMC/W was lower. Concerning sex differences, elderly male patients had the highest average grade of aortic calcification, the lowest serum Pi, [Ca] x [Pi], and immunoreactive parathyroid hormone concentrations, while elderly female patients had the lowest BMC/W and highest incidence of osteopenia. These observations suggest that elderly male hemodialysis patients are more prone to develop atherosclerosis and elderly female hemodialysis patients to develop advanced osteopenia.
Asai
K
K
Nagoya University School of Medicine, Japan.
Miura
S
S
Kawahara
H
H
Toriyama
T
T
Kuzuya
F
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015519:Bone Density; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011674:Pulse; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012737:Sex Factors