Low Bone Mineral Density Prognostic for Atherosclerotic CVD

FRIDAY, May 7, 2021 -- Bone mineral density (BMD) has independent prognostic value for predicting atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in women, according to a study published online May 6 in Heart.

Jiesuck Park, M.D., from the Seoul National University Bundang Hospital in South Korea, and colleagues examined the prognostic value of BMD for predicting ASCVD in women. A retrospective analysis was conducted among 12,681 women aged 50 to 80 years who underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The hazard ratio for ASCVD events (ASCVD death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and ischemic stroke) was assessed according to the BMD or a clinical diagnosis of osteopenia or osteoporosis.

The researchers found that during a median follow-up of 9.2 years, 468 women (3.7 percent) experienced ASCVD events. There was an independent association seen for lower BMD at the lumbar spine, femur neck, and total hip with a higher risk for ASCVD events (adjusted hazard ratio per 1-standard deviation decrease in BMD, 1.16). There was also an independent association observed for a clinical diagnosis of osteoporosis with a higher risk for ASCVD events (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.79). Significant incremental value was seen in discriminating ASCVD events with the addition of BMD or a clinical diagnosis of osteopenia or osteoporosis to clinical risk factors.

"The evaluation of BMD provides predictive value for ASCVD events in women," the authors write. "Further studies are warranted to determine whether the evaluation of BMD translates into long-term clinical benefits in women."

The study was partially funded by Hanmi Pharm. Co. Ltd.

Abstract/Full Text

Editorial

Posted: May 2021