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Low bone mass is associated with carotid atherosclerosis in postmenopausal women: The Japanese Population-based Osteoporosis (JPOS) Cohort Study

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Abstract

Summary

We analyzed 609 women belonging to the JPOS study in a 10-year follow-up survey, to examine the association of osteoporosis with atherosclerosis. Osteoporosis or prevalent vertebral fracture at baseline was associated with increased intima-media thickness of the carotid bifurcation in postmenopausal women, adjusted for age, BMI, and other variables at baseline.

Introduction

Whether low bone mass predicts increased carotid atherosclerosis has not been fully investigated.

Methods

In 2006, we conducted a 10-year follow-up survey of 1,040 women (follow-up rate: 68.6%). We analyzed 609 women ≥50 years old in 2006 without a history of cardiovascular or connective tissue diseases at baseline. BMD and evaluation of vertebral fracture at baseline were used. The intima-media thickness of carotid bifurcation (BIF-IMT) was measured by B-mode ultrasonography in 2006.

Results

Adjusted BIF-IMT values of subjects with spine T-score ≥-1, between-2.5 and -1, and <-2.5 or prevalent vertebral fracture were 1.19 mm, 1.34 mm, 1.57 mm, respectively, in women with less than 10 years since menopause (YSM) (n = 159), 1.30 mm, 1.32 mm, 1.53 mm, in women with YSM ≥10 without a history of hypertension at baseline (n = 144) (both with p < 0.05 for linear trend). Those values among no versus prevalent vertebral fracture in women with YSM ≥10 were 1.40 mm, 1.66 mm with p < 0.05 (n = 202). Those associations were independent of age, BMI, total cholesterol, smoking and drinking habits, history of diabetes mellitus, and hypertension (for women with YSM < 10) at baseline.

Conclusion

Osteoporosis including prevalent vertebral fracture may be associated with carotid atherosclerosis in the first 10 years of postmenopausal women.

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Acknowledgements

This study was conducted by the JPOS group, comprising Fumiaki Marumo (chairman of the study group, professor emeritus, Tokyo Medical and Dental University), Toshihisa Matsuzaki (co-chairman of the study group, Institute of Comprehensive Community Care), Etsuko Kajita (Nagoya University School of Health Sciences), Tomoharu Matsukura (Kanazawa University), and Takashi Yamagami (Hokuriku Health Service Association), along with the authors. Financial support for the baseline survey was provided by the Japan Milk Promotion Board and the Japan Dairy Council. The follow-up surveys were financially supported by a Grant-in-aid for Scientific Research (B #10470114, 1998–2000, B #1437017, 2002–2003, and B #18390201, 2006, C #18590619, 2006) from the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science and a grant in 2000–2002 from the Research Society for Metabolic Bone Diseases, Japan. The authors wish to express special thanks to the personnel of the health departments of Miyko-jima City, Sanuki City, and Nishi-Aizu Town for their excellent support of the study, and to those from SRL, Tokyo, Japan; Toyo Medic, Osaka, Japan; and Toyukai Medical Corporation, Tokyo, Japan, for their technical assistance with the surveys.

Conflicts of interest

None.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health, Kinki University School of Medicine, 377–2, Oono-Higashi, Osaka-Sayama, Osaka, 589–8511, Japan

    J. Tamaki & M. Iki

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Kinki University School of Medicine, Osaka-Sayama, Japan

    Y. Hirano

  3. Department of Domestic Sciences, Jin-ai Women’s College, Fukui, Japan

    Y. Sato

  4. Department of Public Health and Home Nursing, Nagoya University School of Health Sciences, Nagoya, Japan

    E. Kajita

  5. Department of Welfare Promotion and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan

    S. Kagamimori

  6. Kagawa Nutrition University, Tokyo, Japan

    Y. Kagawa

  7. Shuuwa General Hospital, Kasukabe, Saitama, Japan

    H. Yoneshima

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  1. J. Tamaki
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  2. M. Iki
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  3. Y. Hirano
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  7. Y. Kagawa
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Correspondence to J. Tamaki.

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Tamaki, J., Iki, M., Hirano, Y. et al. Low bone mass is associated with carotid atherosclerosis in postmenopausal women: The Japanese Population-based Osteoporosis (JPOS) Cohort Study. Osteoporos Int 20, 53–60 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-008-0633-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-008-0633-z

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