Correlations between 10-year risk of death from cardiovascular diseases and 10-year osteoporotic fracture risk in postmenopausal women

Introduction: Osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are more common in the elderly population and have similar risk factors. The goal was an evaluation of the correlation between 10-year risk of death from CVD and 10-year bone fracture risk (FRAX). Material and methods: A total of 79 patients of the Regional Centre of Menopause and Osteoporosis of the Military Teaching Hospital in Lodz (Poland), aged 50-83 years, consulted for osteoporosis were divided into two groups: study group - with osteoporosis (O; T-score <= -2.5 SD) and control - without osteoporosis (T-sc > -2.5). Bone mineral density was evaluated by densitometric scanning of spine (L2-L4 T-score) and/or femoral neck (Neck T-score) and/or total hip (Total Hip T-score). Total cholesterol (TC), fasting glucose, arterial blood pressure, medical history, and family history were obtained. The risk of fatal-CVD was assessed by Euro Heart Score (EHS), and major osteoporotic (MOFR) and hip fracture risk (HFR) by the FRAX scale. Results: 80% of the patients (32/40) with osteoporosis and 51% (20/39) of the patients without osteoporosis revealed a HeartScore >= 5%. There was correlation in the group of all patients between EHS and Neck T-score (p < 0.05; Spearman rank correlation coefficient (Rs) = -0.3806), L2-L4 T-score (p < 0.05; Rs = -0.2891), and Total Hip T-score (p < 0.005; Rs = -0.3561), and in the control group -between EHS and Neck T-score (p < 0.05; Rs = -0.3502). There was a 2.33% difference between the average EHS level to the disadvantage of patients with osteoporosis (p < 0.05). EHS positively correlated with MOFR (p < 0.001) and HFR (p < 0.001) in the whole study population and with MOFR (p < 0.05) and HFR (p < 0.01) in the group of osteoporotic patients. There were differences between groups in TC (p < 0.001) and BMI (p < 0.001) levels. Conclusions: The 10-year risk of fatal-CVD correlated with osteoporosis and with the 10-year osteoporotic fracture risk. This conclusion may help identify patients who require extended cardiotherapy protocols.