Objective: Arterial stiffening and osteoporosis both occur predominantly in late life. Osteoporosis has been associated with increased peripheral pulse pressure and arterial stiffness, but its effect on aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV) is unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between arterial calcification and aPWV in healthy subjects and a cohort of patients with osteoporosis.

Methods: aPWV and bone mineral density (BMD) were measured non-invasively in 42 patients with osteoporosis and 120 healthy volunteers. Subjects with cardiovascular disease, renal disease or hypertension were excluded. aPWV was assessed using the SphygmoCor system, and vertebral / hip BMD from thoracolumbar CT images, using Mindways software.

Results: The mean±SD aPWV was significantly higher in patients with osteoporosis than controls (9.6 ± 2.9 vs 8.2 ± 1.7 m/s; P = 0.01). Brachial PWV and augmentation index did not differ. Although mean arterial pressure did not differ between the groups, peripheral and central pulse pressures were significantly higher in the osteoporotics (by 6 ± 2 and 5 ± 2 mmHg respectively; P > 0.01 for both). In pooled data for osteoporosis patients and controls, aortic PWV correlated inversely correlated with T-score (r = −0.27, P = 0.001).

Conclusion: Patients with osteoporosis have increased aortic stiffness compared with healthy volunteers, independent of their mean arterial pressure. We speculate that arterial calcification may be involved in the development of arterial stiffness and osteoporosis.