Mitral annular calcification is associated with osteoporosis in women.

BACKGROUND

Few studies have suggested association between mitral annular calcification (MAC) and osteoporosis in women who are post-menopausal. However, the association of MAC with osteoporosis in women, in relation to bone resorption, as assessed by using the dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry method (DEXA), have not been performed. We sought to examine the association between MAC and osteoporosis.

METHODS

In this prospective, observational study carried out in a tertiary referral center, 340 women (mean age +/- SD, 56 +/- 10 years; age range, 33-85 years) underwent echocardiography, with specific assessment of MAC and bone mineral density measurement (T-scores) using DEXA.

RESULTS

MAC was absent in 123 patients (group I) and present in 217 patients (group II). Compared with the control group, the group with MAC had a significantly higher prevalence and severity of osteoporosis (18.2% vs 55.5%, P <.001). Severe osteoporosis was significantly more common in the severe MAC subgroup (n = 66) than in the control subjects (65.2% vs 17.1%; Pearson chi2, 70.02; df = 4; P <.001). With multivariate analysis, only T-scores and age were highly predictive of MAC, with an odds ratio of 2.66 (95 % CI, 1.85-3.83) and 1.04 (95% CI, 1.01-1.07), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

MAC is associated with osteoporosis. Bone mineral density measurement (T-scores) and age were highly predictive of MAC in women.