title: The association between aortic calcification and fracture risk in postmenopausal women in China: the prospective Chongqing osteoporosis study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Fractures are associated with cardiovascular diseases in the elderly. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the association between aortic calcification (AC) and the risk of vertebral fractures in postmenopausal Chinese women.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study with 5 years of follow-up in 1724 postmenopausal women (aged 50 years old and older) was conducted from July 2005 to June 2010. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry was utilized to evaluate bone mineral density (BMD). Aortic calcification score (ACS) was determined by a semi-quantitative method and was further categorized into four groups. Cox proportional hazards models were established to assess the association between AC and the risk of vertebral fractures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For subjects with AC, the incidence of vertebral fractures was higher than that of those without AC (p<0.01). After adjustment for age and other potential confounders, it was found that severe AC (G4, ACS>6; G3, ACS = 3-6) was associated with vertebral fractures. Severe AC (G4) was associated with non-vertebral fractures. There were higher risk for the vertebral fractures in two groups and higher risk for non-vertebral fractures in one group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the current study indicate that severe AC is associated with a significantly increased risk of vertebral fractures and non-vertebral fractures in postmenopausal women in China.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, the Orthopedic Surgery Center of Chinese PLA, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Daping hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Huadong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Daping hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Trauma Center, Institute of Surgery Research, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, the Orthopedic Surgery Center of Chinese PLA, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Jianzhong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015519:Bone Density; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000208:ethnology; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000150:complications* / Q000208:ethnology; D017698:Postmenopause; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000150:complications* / Q000208:ethnology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires