ABSTRACT
The aim of the study was to estimate arterial stiffness and bone mineral density (BMD) in women with coronary heart disease (CHD) and concomitant osteoporosis. It included 120 patients (mean age 68.5 ± 8.7 years) divided into 2 groups matched for age and CHD duration. Group I was comprised of 74 women with CHD and severe osteoporosis, group 2 consisted of 46 women with isolated CHD. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity and central pulse wave were subjected to contour analysis by applanation tonometry using a SphygmoCor AtCor Medical apparatus (Australia). BMD was measured in lumbar vertebrae and proximal part of the femur by X-ray densitometer (XRD). Statistical treatment of the data obtained was performed with the use of Statistica 6.0 package, Wald-Wolfovitz criterion, and multifactorial regressive analysis; differences were considered statistically significant when the calculated P value was less than 0.05. Women with CHD and osteoporosis had higher arterial (diastolic/systolic) pressure, mean aortic pressure, and pulse wave velocity than patients with isolated CHD. The independent determinants of carotid-femoral segment stffness were age (ß = 0.3, 95% CI 0.08-0.11, p = 0.027), BMD in the proximal part of the femur based on Z criterion (ß = 5.02, 95% CI 8.4-10.6, p = 0.0059), BMD in the Wards area based on T criterion ß = 5.07, 95% CI 6.0-8.1, p = 0.005). It is concluded that women with CHD and osteoporosis have elevated parameters of arterial stiffness including carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, augmentation index, central pulse pressure, BMD in lumbar vertebrae and proximal part of the femur. Age and BMD in the proximal part of the femur are independent factors affecting arterial stiffness.
