title: Aortic calcification was associated with risk of fractures: A meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this meta-analysis was to systematically assess the association between aortic calcification (AC) and fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Relevant studies were identified through searching PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane databases before August 2014. Two investigators extracted data independently from the included studies. A random-effects model was derived to composite the pooled HRs or ORs for association of aortic calcification with fractures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 15 articles (21927 subjects) were included in the final meta-analyses. Comparing with non-calcification subjects, patients with aortic calcification were associated with increased risk of fractures (OR = 2.97, 95% CI: 1.98-4.42). Stratified analysis indicated that patients with aortic calcification showed a higher risk of fractures in hemodialysis patients (OR = 1.89, 95% CI: 1.33-2.67; I2 = 0.0%, p= 0.781) and general population (OR = 2.90, 95% CI: 1.80-4.80; I2 = 33.0%, p= 0.225), respectively. Similar significant association between severe aortic calcification and fractures were also observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with aortic calcification or severe aortic calcification were associated with higher risk of fractures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Zexin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology & Health Statistics, School of Public Health, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Yunxian
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D061205:Vascular Calcification / Q000150:complications*
keywords: Aortic calcification; fractures; meta-analysis