Relationship between intima-media thickness and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women: a cross-sectional study

Background: Osteoporosis and atherosclerosis are two conditions that confer the major cause of mortality and morbidity in postmenopausal women. Several studies have suggested that these two conditions are negatively correlated by a common pathway. The aim of our study was to show a relationship between bone mineral density (BMD) and carotid intima media thickness (CIMT), as two factors that are directly related to osteoporosis and atherosclerosis respectively.

Methods: The study group consisted of 136 postmenopausal women that presented at the Radiology Clinic of our hospital for BMD measurements. The CIMT was measured using High Resolution B mode Ultrasonography; BMD was measured at the lumbar spine and femoral neck using Dual-energy X-Ray Absorptiometry.

Results: The mean IMT value in osteoporotic women (0.7±0.1 mm) was significantly higher compared to non-osteoporotic women (0.6±0.1 mm, P < 0.001). A significant negative correlation was found between CIMT and the T score of lumbar spine (r=-0.35; P < 0.001) and femoral neck (r=-0.23, P < 0.001), as well as Z score of the lumbar spine (r=-0.27, P=0.004). No significant correlation was found between CIMT and Z score of the femoral neck.

Conclusion: Our study shows that bone mineral density and carotid intima media thickness are negatively correlated, thus showing a possible relationship between osteoporosis and atherosclerosis. However, more research is necessary to determine the pathway that connects these two conditions.