Osteoporosis and heart disease – new link discovered

Heart disease and osteoporosis may share similar underlying causes according to UK research in Osteoporosis.
An advanced scanning technique has allowed experts to see multiple layers of the wrist bone in 350 men and women aged 70–85 years. Cortical volumetric bone mineral density tended to be much lower in people with heart diseases such as angina, heart attack or heart failure, and the effect was more prominent in women than men.
It is expected that more studies will investigate the association further so as to improve bone health.
“The findings highlight the need to evaluate a history of heart disease in the management of osteoporosis in older people and further research is also needed to provide a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms which explain the link between osteoporosis and heart disease,” says Prof Cyrus Cooper, lead researcher.

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Image credit: Umberto Salvagnin