The relation between Vascular Calcification in Hemodialysis Patients and Osteoporosis

Sarhan, Eman Ebraheim; Lotfy, Hany Hafez; Elseknedy, Mostafa Fouad Mohamed; Emara, Ahmed Abdelmonem

doi:10.21608/arcmed.2025.354825.1085

The relation between Vascular Calcification in Hemodialysis Patients and Osteoporosis

Document Type : Original Research

Authors

¹ Nephrology Department, Armed Forces College of Medicine, Cairo, Egypt and at Ain shams University, Cairo, Egypt

² Radiology department, Military Medical Academy, Cairo, Egypt

³ Nephrology Department, Armed Forces College of Medicine, Cairo, Egypt

10.21608/arcmed.2025.354825.1085

Abstract

Background: Cases with end-stage renal disease who get regular hemodialysis were at a higher risk of death due to the high frequency of cardiovascular disease. The objective of the work was to assess the prevalence of osteoporosis and vascular calcification (VC) in hemodialysis individuals utilizing dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans and the aortic calcification index (ACI) and to investigate the relationship between these conditions.
Methods: This cross-sectional work had been conducted on 84 patients aged >18 years old, both sexes, on regular hemodialysis using an arteriovenous fistula for more than 6 months. All patients underwent computed tomography of the abdomen and DEXA.
Results: ACI was significantly greater in individuals with osteoporosis than those with normal bone density (P=0.007). Total leucocyte count and parathyroid hormone (PTH) were significantly higher in the ACI ≤ 0.25 group than ACI > 0.25 group (P=0.002). A strong negative correlation existed between ACI and both femur neck T-scores and lumbar vertebrae T-scores, which was significant (P<0.001). A strong positive correlation existed between age and ACI (P=0.012). For T-scores, a moderate negative correlation existed between femur T-scores, age (P<0.001), and PTH (P=0.001), but weak and non-significant correlations with dialysis duration, phosphorus, and calcium (P > 0.07).
Conclusion: Osteoporosis and VC present issues in hemodialysis cases, with osteoporotic individuals having a higher body mass index and PTH levels, in addition to a strong negative correlation between ACI and bone mineral density.

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