Aortic Calcification and Lumbar Fracture Risk in Older Men

Jack Cush, MD

Mar 30, 2021 5:20 pm

Fractures of the spine and abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) can both be visualized with spinal imaging; a new report shows that finding both radiographic vertebral fracture and AAC on the same lateral spine images may predict the risk of future incident major osteoporotic fracture in older men.

The Journal of Bone and Mineral Research reports a study of 5,365 older men assessed the utlity of lateral spine imaging to detect prevalent vertebral fractures (PVFx) and abdominal aortic calcification (AAC).

Compared with men without PVFx and AAC‐24 score 0 or 1, the risk incident major osteoporotic fracture was increased (HR 1.38) among men with AAC‐24 score ≥2 alone, higher (HR 1.71) for men with PVFx alone, and the highest with both risk factors (HR 2.35) in men.

Thus, one can assess the risk of prevalent radiographic vertebral fractures in men who also have evidence of AAC on lateral spine images.

Joint Associations of Prevalent Radiographic Vertebral Fracture and Abdominal Aortic Calcification With Incident Hip, Major Osteoporotic, and Clinical Vertebral Fractures