Abdominal Aortic Calcification Identified on Lateral Spine Images From Bone Densitometers Are a Marker of Generalized Atherosclerosis in Elderly Women.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry is a low-cost, minimal radiation technique used to improve fracture prediction. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry machines can also capture single-energy lateral spine images, and abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) is commonly seen on these images.

Approach and results

We investigated whether dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry-derived measures of AAC were related to an established test of generalized atherosclerosis in 892 elderly white women aged >70 years with images captured during bone density testing in 1998/1999 and B-mode carotid ultrasound in 2001. AAC scores were calculated using a validated 24-point scale into low (AAC24 score, 0 or 1), moderate (AAC24 scores, 2-5), and severe AAC (AAC24 scores, >5) seen in 45%, 36%, and 19

SUBMITTER: Lewis JR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4702255 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature