title: Is vascular calcification associated with bone mineral density and osteoporotic fractures in ambulatory, elderly women?
abstract: 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.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  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.
authors: INSERM ERI-12, EA 4292, Jules Verne University of Picardy, Amiens, France.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Flipon
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Liabeuf
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Fardellone
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Mentaverri
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Ryckelynck
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Grados
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Kamel
authors: Z A
authors: ZA
authors: Massy
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Dargent-Molina
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Brazier
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005272:Femur Neck / Q000503:physiopathology; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D058866:Osteoporotic Fractures / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology