A Population-based Study of the Prevalence of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms in Relation to Bone Mineral Density: The Tromso Study

In a population-based study of 2,586 men and 2,806 postmenopausal women aged 55-74 years in Tromsø, Norway, in 1994-1995, associations between the prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysms and bone mineral density were examined. The presence of an abdominal aortic aneurysm was assessed by ultrasonography. The bone mineral density of the forearm was measured by single X-ray absorptiometry. In postmenopausal women aged 55-64 years (nine cases of aneurysm), the adjusted odds ratio for abdominal aortic aneurysm was 0.42 (95% confidence interval: 0.19, 0.95) for each standard-deviation increase in bone mineral density. In other age groups (65-69 years and 70-74 years) including a total of 50 cases, the corresponding odds ratios for abdominal aortic aneurysm were 1.17 and 0.70, respectively. In men aged 55-59 years, based on 45 cases, the odds ratio for abdominal aortic aneurysm was 0.72 (95% confidence interval: 0.50, 1.03). In other age groups (60-64, 65-69, and 70-74 years) including a total of 206 cases, the odds ratios ranged from 1.00 to 1.10. The associations among men (in any age group) and among women older than 64 years were not statistically significant. The authors' main conclusion is that abdominal aortic aneurysms and bone mineral density are not related. However, an association in younger subjects cannot be ruled out.