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Aortic valve calcification: association with bone mineral density and cardiovascular risk factors
Yuksel Aksoy1, Cengiz Yagmur, Gulacan Ozgun Tekin
1Department of Cardiology, Inonu University School of Medicine, Malatya, Turkey.
Insights
Aortic valve calcification is linked to aging and hypertension. Lower bone mineral density is also associated with aortic valve calcification, suggesting a connection between bone health and cardiovascular risk.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Gerontology
- Bone Metabolism
Background:
- Cardiovascular risk factors are associated with aortic valve calcification.
- Low bone mineral density is linked to aortic calcification in older women.
- The relationship between cardiovascular health and bone density requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare cardiovascular risk factors in patients with and without aortic valve calcification.
- To assess bone mineral density in relation to aortic valve calcification.
- To identify independent risk factors for aortic valve calcification.
Main Methods:
- Assessed cardiovascular risk factors and bone mineral density in 114 patients (49 with aortic valve calcification, 65 without).
- Utilized echocardiography for valve assessment and nuclear medicine for bone mineral density measurements.
- Compared patient groups based on various cardiovascular and demographic parameters.
Main Results:
- Age and hypertension were identified as independent positive risk factors for aortic valve calcification.
- T score (bone mineral density) showed a negative association with aortic valve calcification.
- No significant differences were found in sex, BMI, coronary artery disease history, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, or smoking status between groups.
Conclusions:
- Aortic valve calcification is positively associated with age and hypertension.
- Decreased bone mineral density is negatively associated with aortic valve calcification.
- The underlying mechanisms linking reduced bone mineral density and aortic valve calcification warrant further research.
Background:
Cardiovascular risk factors are reported to increase the incidence of aortic valve calcification. Among older women, low bone mineral density appears to be associated with increased prevalence of aortic calcification. We aimed to assess and compare cardiovascular risk factors and bone mineral density of patients with and without aortic valve calcification.
Materials And Methods:
Cardiovascular risk factors and bone mineral density measurements have been assessed in 49 patients with aortic valve calcification and in 65 patients without aortic valve calcification. All patients were subsequently referred to the nuclear medicine department to measure bone mineral density after echocardiographic evaluation.
Results:
No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups with respect to sex, body mass index, history of coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, and smoking status. Although height and weight of the patients with aortic valve calcification were significantly lower than those of patients without aortic valve calcification, they were not independent risk factors. Age and hypertension were found to be independent positive risk factors for aortic valve calcification, whereas T score was found to be negatively associated with aortic valve calcification.
Conclusion:
We have shown that aortic valve calcification is positively associated with age and hypertension, whereas bone mineral density is negatively associated with aortic valve calcification. The mechanism underlying the association between decreased bone mineral density and aortic valve calcification remains to be clarified in further studies.
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