title: Carotid intima-media thickness and calcification in relation to bone mineral density in postmenopausal women-the OSTPRE-BBA study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Atherosclerosis (AS) and osteoporosis are common diseases in elderly people and may be metabolically related. The aim of this cross-sectional population-based study was to explore the association between common carotid artery intima-media thickness (cIMT), carotid artery calcification (CAC), and BMD in postmenopausal women. In addition, the association of postmenopausal hormone therapy (HT) and selected diseases with cIMT and carotid calcification was studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  The 290 women (mean age 73.6 years) included in this Bone Brain Atherosclerosis study (OSTPRE-BBA) were randomly selected from the population-based Kuopio Osteoporosis Risk Factor and Prevention (OSTPRE) study cohort, Finland.
  
  
  METHODS
  For this cross-sectional study, cIMT was measured with B-mode ultrasound; femoral neck and total body BMD were measured with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no statistically significant associations between mean cIMT and femoral neck T-score (p>0.05). However, an increased maximum cIMT was significantly associated with low femoral neck T-score. In the osteoporotic group (T-score <-2.5, n=20), the maximum cIMT was 2.51±0.88mm (mean±SD); in the normal BMD group (T-score >-1, n=122), it was 1.93±0.64mm (p=0.001). The odds of having CAC were approximately four-fold higher in the osteoporotic group compared with the group with a normal femoral neck T-score (odds ratio [OR]=4.2, p=0.038). The maximum cIMT was smaller in HT users (1.98±0.56mm, n=190) than in non-users (2.16±0.74mm, n=156, p=0.036).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of our population-based study suggest that BMD is related to AS, at least in carotid arteries. They indirectly support the hypothesis of partially shared pathophysiological mechanisms between these two disorders.
authors: Bone and Cartilage Research Unit (BCRU), Surgery, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Mediteknia Building, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland. Electronic address: mvarri@student.uef.fi.
authors: Miika
authors: M
authors: Värri
authors: Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland, Canthia Building, P.O.Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland.
authors: Tomi-Pekka
authors: TP
authors: Tuomainen
authors: Bone and Cartilage Research Unit (BCRU), Surgery, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Mediteknia Building, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland; Lapland Hospital District, P.O. Box 8041, FI-96101 Rovaniemi, Finland.
authors: Risto
authors: R
authors: Honkanen
authors: Bone and Cartilage Research Unit (BCRU), Surgery, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Mediteknia Building, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland.
authors: Toni
authors: T
authors: Rikkonen
authors: Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland and Finnish Medicines Agency Fimea, Mannerheimintie 103b, FI-00280 Helsinki, Finland.
authors: Leo
authors: L
authors: Niskanen
authors: Bone and Cartilage Research Unit (BCRU), Surgery, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Mediteknia Building, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland; Department of Orthopaedics, Traumatology and Hand Surgery, Kuopio University Hospital, Building 3, P.O. Box 100, FI-70029 Kuopio, Finland.
authors: Heikki
authors: H
authors: Kröger
authors: Bone and Cartilage Research Unit (BCRU), Surgery, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Mediteknia Building, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Kuopio University Hospital, Building 6, P.O. Box 100, FI-70029 Kuopio, Finland.
authors: Marjo T
authors: MT
authors: Tuppurainen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D015519:Bone Density; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000378:metabolism*; D017698:Postmenopause; D061205:Vascular Calcification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium
keywords: Carotid calcification; DXA; Intima-media thickness; Osteoporosis; Postmenopausal hormone therapy