The effects of bone mineral density on carotid intima-media thickness and hemodynamics

Purpose: Cardiovascular diseases and osteoporosis are the most important two causes of morbidity and mortality in postmenopausal women. In this study, we classified postmenopausal women, who are free of cardiovascular diseases, according to their bone mineral density. We aimed to evaluate the effect of bone mineral density on carotis intima media thickness and hemodinamia.Methods: We conducted a prospective study. The study sample constituted of outpatients presenting to Duzce University School of Medicine Hospital, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Description of bone mineral density of the patients were done by using T score World Health Organization. A total of 120 patients were divided into 3 equal groups as patients with T scores greater than -1,0 (normal), patients with T scores between -1,0 and -2,5 (osteopenics), and patients with T scores lower than -2,5 (osteoporotics). Patients with cardiovascular risk factors were excluded from the study.Results: When the osteoporotic, osteopenic, and normal groups were compared, no significant difference was found in terms of peak systolic and end-diastolic velocities.Mean intima media thickness statistically significantly differed between the three groups. A reverse-linear correlation was observed between age and lomber T score, and between lomber T score and intima media thickness. A linear correaltion was found between age and intima media thickness. Residual index values were siginificantly different between normal subjects and osteopenic patients whereas no difference was found between other groups.Conclusions: Osteoprosis is a widely seen disease which is more prevalent in postmenopausal women. There are some studies in the literature, pointing out the relationship between osteoporosis and increased carotid intima media thickness. Similarly, in the present study, an increase in the lomber vertebrae bone mineral density was shown to be associated with an increase in carotid intima media thickness. We think that early detection and treatment of osteoporosis may prevent the onset of atherosclerosis and decrease the development of cardiovascular diseases that are caused by atherosclerosis.