Relationship between Bone Mineral Density and Aortic Calcification or Arterial Stiffness (Ca Triangle)

Abstract

　Background/Aims: Recent studies have investigated the relationship between bone mineral density (BMD) and arteriosclerosis. This study investigated potential correlations between BMD and aortic calcification or arterial stiffness (the Ca triangle). The correlation of each of these three factors with age or atherosclerotic risk factors (ARFs) was also investigated.

　Methods: The study participants comprised 69 men and 64 women. All had undergone measurement of BMD and computed tomography (CT) to determine their aortic calcification (Ca) score. The cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) value was also obtained. First, correlations among these three factors were investigated. Next, the correlation of each of these factors with age or ARFs, including height, weight, blood pressure, number of atherosclerotic diseases (RF score), and rate of metabolic syndrome (MS score), was investigated.

　Results: Bone mineral density correlated significantly with the Ca score or CAVI value in women, but not in men. In women, BMD, the Ca score, or the CAVI value in both men and women showed a strong correlation with age. No correlation was observed between BMD and ARFs in either sex. The Ca score correlated significantly with the RF or MS score in men, but only with the RF score in women. The CAVI value correlated significantly with blood pressure or the RF score in men. No correlation was observed between the CAVI value and ARFs in women, however.

　Conclusion: BMD, Ca score, and the CAVI value interacted differently between men and women. Differences in the correlations of these factors with sex, age, or ARFs may explain the differences in the Ca triangle between men and women.