Bone Mineral Densitometry Findings as Possible Risk Factors for Stroke in Women

Abstract

This prospective and hospital-based study was planned to investigate if bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral concentration (BMC) parameters are the risk factors of stroke and either there is an association between the parameters and other risk factors or not and importance of evaluation of location of osteoporosis. Total 42 female stroke patients and 24 female controls were included in the study. Each subject underwent BMD and BMC assessments. The sites studied are three regions of the femur, the distal third of the forearm, and the middle portion of the forearm. Other risk factors of stroke were recorded. The nature of the stroke was separated as hemorrhage and ischemia. The localization of lesion was determined. There were not significant difference for age between patients (mean age: 68.35 ± 15.29) and the controls (mean ± SD years: 66.37 ± 13.65) (p = 0.109). In the stroke group, the distal forearm BMD and BMC scores were less than the controls (p = 0.05 and p = 0.004). The great trochanteric BMC and BMD scores were significantly lower in the patients (p = 0.001; p = 0.036). Results indicate that measurement of in the proximal and distal portions of bones is a valuable non-invasive method for determining stroke risk.