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

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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. Whether low bone mass predicts increased carotid atherosclerosis has not been fully investigated. In 2006, we conducted a 10-year follow-up survey of 1,040 women (follow-up rate: 68.6%). We analyzed 609 women > or =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. Adjusted BIF-IMT values of subjects with spine T-score > or =-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 > or =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 > or =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. Osteoporosis including prevalent vertebral fracture may be associated with carotid atherosclerosis in the first 10 years of postmenopausal women.