Aortic valve calcification: association with bone mineral density and cardiovascular risk factors.
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.
Aksoy
Yuksel
Y
Department of Cardiology, Inonu University School of Medicine, Malatya, Turkey.
Yagmur
Cengiz
C
Tekin
Gulacan Ozgun
GO
Yagmur
Julide
J
Topal
Ergun
E
Kekilli
Ersoy
E
Turhan
Hasan
H
Kosar
Feridun
F
Yetkin
Ertan
E
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