title: Aortic valve calcification: association with bone mineral density and cardiovascular risk factors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardiovascular risk factors are reported to increase the incidence of aortic valve calcification. Among older women, low bone mineral density appears to be associated with increased prevalence of aortic calcification. We aimed to assess and compare cardiovascular risk factors and bone mineral density of patients with and without aortic valve calcification.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cardiovascular risk factors and bone mineral density measurements have been assessed in 49 patients with aortic valve calcification and in 65 patients without aortic valve calcification. All patients were subsequently referred to the nuclear medicine department to measure bone mineral density after echocardiographic evaluation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups with respect to sex, body mass index, history of coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, and smoking status. Although height and weight of the patients with aortic valve calcification were significantly lower than those of patients without aortic valve calcification, they were not independent risk factors. Age and hypertension were found to be independent positive risk factors for aortic valve calcification, whereas T score was found to be negatively associated with aortic valve calcification.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have shown that aortic valve calcification is positively associated with age and hypertension, whereas bone mineral density is negatively associated with aortic valve calcification. The mechanism underlying the association between decreased bone mineral density and aortic valve calcification remains to be clarified in further studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Inonu University School of Medicine, Malatya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yuksel
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aksoy
authors.forename: Cengiz
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yagmur
authors.forename: Gulacan Ozgun
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Tekin
authors.forename: Julide
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yagmur
authors.forename: Ergun
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Topal
authors.forename: Ersoy
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kekilli
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Turhan
authors.forename: Feridun
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kosar
authors.forename: Ertan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yetkin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors