摘要:Summary We conducted a cohort study to investigate if the vessel calcifications (VCs) found in the distal extremities are an index of low bone mass at multiskeletal sites. A total of 332 healthy women aged 41–80 years were recruited for bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density measurement using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Seven percent of the women showed {VC} at both upper and lower distal extremities based on pQCT images. Women who had {VC} were then compared with their age-matched non-VC counterparts. Results showed that peripheral {VC} was mainly formed at distal lower extremities, and the prevalence of {VC} increased with advancing age, with 0%, 5.6%, 9.3%, and up to 34.5% in the age groups of 41–50 years, 51–60 years, 61–70 years, and 71–80 years, respectively. Compared with the control group, the {VC} group showed a significantly higher body mass index (25.2 vs. 23.2, p < 0.01), lower {BMC} at the spine (27.4 g vs. 31.3 g, p < 0.05), and lower {BMC} (1.8 g vs. 2.0 g, p < 0.05) and bone mineral density (0.57 g/cm2 vs. 0.66 g/cm2, p < 0.05) at the hip as measured by DXA. The diagnosis of {VC} in the distal extremities by pQCT increased the diagnosis sensitivity of osteoporosis by 50%. The significance of our findings imply that in clinical settings using pQCT for bone assessment and identification of patients with {VC} in the distal extremities, patients should also be referred for central {DXA} measurement at the femoral neck for diagnosis of osteoporosis as well as further assessment of vascular disorders.
关键词:Bone mass; Body mass index; DXA; pQCT; Vessel calcification