title: Decreased bone mineral density is associated with coronary atherosclerosis in healthy postmenopausal women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to assess the association between bone mineral density (BMD) and coronary atherosclerosis in healthy postmenopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective review of 252 postmenopausal women who had visited a health promotion center for a routine checkup. BMD of the lumbar spine (L1-L4) and femoral neck was evaluated using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and coronary atherosclerosis was assessed using 64-row multidetector computed tomography. Participants were divided into normal BMD and osteopenia-osteoporosis groups, according to the T-scores of their lumbar spine or femoral neck.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants with osteopenia-osteoporosis had a significantly higher proportion of coronary atherosclerosis than did those with normal BMD at the lumbar spine (P=0.003) and femoral neck (P=0.004). Osteopenia-osteoporosis at the lumbar spine (odds ratio [OR], 2.86; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12 to 7.27) or femoral neck (OR, 3.35; 95% CI, 1.07 to 10.57) was associated with coronary atherosclerosis, after controlling for age and cardiovascular risk factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Decreased BMD is associated with coronary atherosclerosis in healthy postmenopausal women, independent of age and cardiovascular risk factors. Postmenopausal women with decreased BMD may have a higher risk of developing coronary atherosclerosis.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ; Institute of Women's Life Medical Science, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Seok Kyo
authors: SK
authors: Seo
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ; Institute of Women's Life Medical Science, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Bo Hyon
authors: BH
authors: Yun
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ; Institute of Women's Life Medical Science, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Eun Bee
authors: EB
authors: Noe
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ; Institute of Women's Life Medical Science, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Jong Wook
authors: JW
authors: Suh
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ; Institute of Women's Life Medical Science, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Young Sik
authors: YS
authors: Choi
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ; Institute of Women's Life Medical Science, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Byung Seok
authors: BS
authors: Lee
keywords: Bone density; Coronary artery disease; Menopause