title: Atherosclerotic vascular disease may be associated with osteoporosis or osteopenia in postmenopausal women: a preliminary study.
abstract: The objective of this study was to determine if there is an association between osteoporosis or osteopenia and atherosclerotic vascular disease (AVD) (two conditions quite prevalent in nursing homes) in a sample of postmenopausal women. We conducted a retrospective chart review on 101 postmenopausal women in a university-affiliated nursing home to investigate if there is an association between osteoporosis or osteopenia and AVD. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by DEXA scan obtained from a computerized radiology database. Low BMD was defined as > or =1.5 standard deviations below the mean of a cohort of young women. AVD was diagnosed if documented coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, or peripheral arterial disease was present. The mean age and prevalence of smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and hypercholesterolemia were not significantly different between 51 women with osteoporosis or osteopenia and 50 women with normal BMD. AVD was present in 31 of 51 women (51%) with osteoporosis or osteopenia and in 19 of 50 women (38%) with a normal BMD (p<0.025).
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Divisions of Cardiology and Geriatrics, New York Medical College, Macy Pavilion, Room 138, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA.
authors.forename: Gayatri
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Wilbert S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Aronow
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications*; D015519:Bone Density; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008499:Medical Records; D009735:Nursing Homes; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000150:complications*; D017698:Postmenopause; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors