title: Osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases' cosegregation: epidemiological features.
abstract: Life expectancy in Italy is estimated to rise to 77.9 and 84.4 years in next years. Increased life expectancy is associated with a greater frailty of elderly people and an increased prevalence of chronic and degenerative illnesses such as cardiovascular diseases and osteoporosis. The impact of osteoporotic hip fractures in Italy is very similar to that of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and there is a need for further epidemiological investigations concerning both the pathologies, as well as for a better understanding of possible mechanisms of their cosegregation. Actually, calcium metabolism is involved both in the development of osteoporosis and in the raise of cardiovascular risk. We have reviewed the most recent publications concerning epidemiological trends of both osteoporosis and acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and also the trials addressing cosegregation of these pathologies. According to the publications examined, in the Italian population (both ≥ 45 and > 65 years old), the number of hospitalizations following hip fracture and AMI are comparable. Both hip fractures and cardiovascular diseases represent in Italy a serious medical problem and a leading health cost driver, according to what has already been reported for many other Countries in the industrialized world, thus requiring a global clinical approach. Low calcium intake could represent one of the possible pathogenic paths underlining the association between hypertension and osteoporosis. Low calcium serum levels has been proved to enhance PTH and vitamin D3 production, which result in a remarkable lypogenesis performed by adypocites and switch on mechanisms leading to the raise of blood systolic pressure, the development of atherosclerotic plaques and cardiovascular events. Although many trials have suggested that bone mineral density may be included in the list of cardiovascular risk factors, more studies are needed in order to deeply investigate the causal relationships between calcium metabolism and cardiovascular diseases.
authors.affiliation: Second University of Naples.
authors.forename: Prisco
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Piscitelli
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Iolascon
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gimigliano
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gimigliano
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marinelli
authors.forename: Rosalba
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Di Nuzzo
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Colì
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Di Paola
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gianicolo
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chitano
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sbenaglia
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gismondi
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Camilli
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Modena
authors.forename: Maria Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Brandi
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Distante
authors.forename: Alexandru
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cozma