Background Diabetes mellitus has shown to be a significant risk factor for the development and prognosis of heart failure (HF) and associated with an increased risk of fractures [1]. Osteoporosis and heart failure are generally considered two distinct diseases, but recent evidence suggests a link between both diseases.

Objectives The aim of the study was to investigate the association of bone mineral density with the risk of developing heart failure in diabetic patients.

Methods 85 patients both sexes with type 2 diabetes aged 58.69±9.07 years were studied. Besides standard laboratory parameters, the echocardiographic and BMD measurements were performed. Estimated glomerular filtration rate was measured.

Results Among diabetic subjects, 8 patients (9.4%) had osteoporosis, 21 (24.8%) had osteopenia and 56 (65.8%) had a normal BMD. Increased serum NT-proBNP (p<0.001) and decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) (p=0.03) were significantly correlated with low T-score L1-L4 cutoff points between groups (normal, osteopenia, and osteoporosis). Multivariate stepwise linear regression analysis of the significant variables revealed that NT-proBNP, EF were independent predictors of lumbar BMD among female patients with diabetes mellitus. After adjusting for age, gender, and related comorbidities, the osteoporosis group was associated with a significantly higher risk of coronary artery disease in women with diabetes. However, no association between BMD and HF was found in men.

Conclusions Osteoporosis may be an independent factor for HF in women with diabetes mellitus. Our data suggested that early detection of abnormal BMD should warrant for early search of undetected HF in diabetic women. A further study is needed to elucidate the effects of BMD on cardiac function in diabetic patients.

References

1. Heart failure is a risk factor for orthopedic fracture: a population-based analysis of 16,294 patients. van Diepen S, Majumdar SR, Bakal JA, McAlister FA, Ezekowitz JA Circulation. 2008 Nov 4; 118(19):1946–52.

References

Acknowledgements We acknowledged the help from the Republican Research Center for Radiation Medicine and Human Ecology for the technical assistance.

Disclosure of Interest None declared