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Lower bone mass is associated with subclinical atherosclerosis, endothelial dysfunction and carotid thickness in the

Alessandra M Campos-Staffico1, Wladimir M Freitas1, Luiz Sérgio F Carvalho1

  • 1State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil.

Atherosclerosis
|November 30, 2019
PubMed

Insights

In very elderly individuals, higher bone mass is linked to lower risks of subclinical atherosclerosis and carotid artery thickening. This suggests a connection between bone health and cardiovascular health in older adults.

Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Cardiology
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Osteoporosis and coronary heart disease (CHD) are prevalent in the elderly, sharing risk factors and mechanisms like calcification.
  • Clinical data suggest a link between reduced bone mass and cardiovascular issues, including endothelial dysfunction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between bone mass density and subclinical atherosclerosis or endothelial dysfunction in individuals aged 80 and above.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 208 individuals aged 80+ with no prior cardiovascular disease.
  • Evaluations included medical assessments, blood tests, flow-mediated dilation (FMD), carotid intimal-media thickness (IMT), Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA), and Coronary Calcium Score (CCS).
  • Multivariate logistic regression models were used to calculate Odds Ratios (OR) for CCS, FMD, and IMT categories, with covariate adjustments.

Main Results:

  • Overall bone mass was independently and inversely associated with Coronary Calcium Score (CCS) categories (OR: 1.68; p=0.024) and carotid intimal-media thickness (IMT) categories (OR: 2.97; p=0.030).
  • Conversely, overall bone mass showed an independent and direct association with flow-mediated dilation (FMD) categories (OR: 2.73; p=0.023).

Conclusions:

  • Overall bone mass is independently and inversely associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in the very elderly.
  • Higher bone mass is linked to better endothelial function and reduced carotid artery wall thickness in this population.
Abstract

Keywords:
AgingEndothelial dysfunctionOsteoporosisSubclinical atherosclerosis

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