Sex-Specific Association Patterns of Bone Microstructure and Lower Leg Arterial Calcification
Abstract
In conversations about bone loss and the importance of calcium homeostasis, patients frequently inquire about the association with arterial calcifications. Although a relationship between bone loss and the occurrence of vascular calcifications is suspected, it is not yet fully investigated and understood. This study aims to analyze associations between bone mineralization, structure, and vascular calcification at the lower leg in patients with low bone mineral density in HR-pQCT. We retrospectively analyzed 774 high-resolution quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) scans of the distal tibia for the presence of vascular calcifications. After sex-specific propensity score matching for age and BMI to account for confounders, 132 patients remained for quantification of bone microstructure, bone density, lower leg arterial calcification (LLAC), and laboratory parameters of bone turnover. The interactions between bone parameters and vascular calcification were quantified by regression analyses. The calcium metabolism was not different between individuals with and without LLAC, nor oral calcium supplementation. Female patients with LLAC had a higher cortical perimeter (p = 0.016) compared to female patients without LLAC, whereas male patients with LLAC had lower cortical pore diameter than male patients without LLAC (p = 0.027). The appearance of LLAC was sex specifically associated with bone parameters. In female patients, only plaque density was associated with HR-pQCT bone…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a cohort study, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 132 participants or records.
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