Aortic calcification, arterial stiffness and bone mineral density in patients with COPD

Abstract Background Increased arterial stiffness, using aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) has been demonstrated in patients with COPD. However, mechanisms underlying this remain unclear. We explored the contribution of aortic calcification to large artery haemodynamics and its association to bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with confirmed COPD. Methods Patients with COPD, free of maintenance oral corticosteroids, renal disease, diabetes or known cardiovascular disease ( n = 45), 27 male, mean (SD) age 66(7) years underwent unenhanced thoraco-abdominal computed tomography to determine quantitative aortic calcium content using a volume scoring method. Aortic PWV was measured. A subgroup ( n = 29) had BMD determined. Results All patients had some evidence of aortic calcification. Aortic PWV was related to log10 calcification in abdominal aorta ( r = 0.34, p = 0.025) and to semi-quantitative assessment in the ascending and descending thoracic aorta ( r = 0.47 and r = 0.39, both p