Can osteoporosis increase the incidence of heart failure in adults?

Skeletal consequences of heart failure

Heart failure (HF) is a prevalent clinical syndrome that causes significant physical limitations. Osteoporosis is also an important cause of loss of functionality, and it mainly affects women. There are several reports linking HF and osteoporosis, and both share risk factors. Most of the data available so far point to bone fragility as a consequence of HF, and several mechanisms have been identified to explain this relationship. Among the proposed pathophysiological mechanisms are the hyperactivation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and the increase in parathyroid hormone, functional limitation, production of inflammatory mediators and the use of drugs for HF. The role of osteoprotegerin has gained attention owing to its cardiovascular and skeletal effects, its observed deficiency during the postmenopausal period along with its compensatory increases in HF and severe osteoporosis. The objective of this review was to perform a literature search for the main evidence on skeletal impairment in HF, with emphasis on women. As for epidemiological studies, we selected data from 3 meta-analyses and 20 individual observational studies, which together showed the interrelationship between the two clinical conditions in terms of both decreased bone density and increased fracture risk. In conclusion, HF and osteoporosis are interrelated conditions mediated by complex pathophysiological mechanisms which may be more relevant for postmenopausal women, considered to be a vulnerable population for both cardiovascular diseases and bone fragility.

Review of cardiovascular imaging in the Journal of Nuclear Cardiology 2020: positron emission tomography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance

Although the year 2020 was different from other years in many respects, the Journal of Nuclear Cardiology published excellent articles pertaining to imaging in patients with cardiovascular disease due to the dedication of the investigators in our field all over the world. In this review, we will summarize a selection of these articles to provide a concise review of the main advancements that have recently occurred in the field and provide the reader with an opportunity to review a wide selection of articles. We will focus on publications dealing with positron emission tomography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance and hope that you will find this review helpful.

The muscle to bone axis (and viceversa): An encrypted language affecting tissues and organs and yet to be codified?

Skeletal muscles and bone tissue form the musculoskeletal apparatus, a complex system essential for the voluntary movement. The loss of muscle mass and muscle strength is often associated with a loss of bone mass, in a "hazardous duet" which implies the co-existence of sarcopenia-osteoporosis and exposes patients to a deterioration in quality of life and increased mortality. From the mechanostat theory to the recent definition of the osteosarcopenia syndrome, many aspects of muscle-bone interaction have been investigated in recent decades. The mechanical interaction is now accepted, considering the close anatomical relationship between the two tissues, however, much remains to be discovered regarding the biochemical muscle-bone interaction. Skeletal muscle has been defined as an endocrine organ capable of exerting an action on other tissues. Myokines, bioactive polypeptides released by the muscle, could represent the encrypted message in the communication between muscle and bone. These two tissues have a reciprocal influence on their metabolisms and respond in a similar way to the multiple external factors. The aim of this review is to stimulate the understanding of the encrypted language between muscle and bone, highlighting the role of catabolic pathways and oxidative stress in the musculoskeletal apparatus to elucidate the shared mechanisms and the similarity of response to the same stimuli by different tissues. Our understanding of muscle-bone interactions it could be useful to identify and develop new strategies to treat musculoskeletal diseases, together with pharmacological, nutritional and exercise-based approaches, which are already in use for the treatment of these pathologies.

[Polymorbidity and its association with the unfavorable course of chronic heart failure in outpatients aged 60 years and older]

AIM

This study was carried out to evaluate polymorbidity taking into account geriatric syndromes and their relationship with the course of chronic heart failure (CHF) in outpatients aged 60 years and older. Methods. We conducted an open, prospective, non-randomized study. The main group included 80 patients with CHF, the comparison group - 40 patients without CHF. Conducted clinical examination, ECG, echocardiography, two-photon X-ray absorptiometry. The scale of assessment of clinical status in CHF,Charlson comorbidity index were used. The criteria for frailty were the presence of at least 3 signs due FRAIL scale. Mean follow-up was 24.1±13.0 months. Results. All patients with CHF (100%) and 92.5% of the comparison group had a concomitant pathology. A combination of 3 or more of any diseases was more common in CHF compared to control group (p=0.008), CKD (66%) and obesity (35%) were the most common pathology. Combinations of osteoporosis and CKD (28%), obesity and CKD (23%) were the most frequent in the CHF patients, a combination of obesity and CKD (28%), obesity and diabetes (18%) - without CHF patients. The same incidence of osteoporosis (p=0.768), falls (p=0.980), fractures (p=0.549) and frailty (p=0.828) was observed in CHF patients and different EFLV, but prevalence of frailty was observed at the age of 75 years and older. During the observation period, 24% CHF patients and 5% patients without CHF (p=0.022) died. The worst survival of patients with ischemic genesis of CHF and osteoporosis was noted. The factors associated with an increased risk of death in CHF patients were the ischemic etiology of CHF (OR 8.33; 95% CI 1.11-62.4; p=0.039), male gender (OR 7.91; 95% CI 2.3-27.2; p=0.001), LV EF <45% (OR 2.52; 95% CI 1.01-6,27; p=0.047), low bone mineral density in femoral neck region (р=0.016, ОR 4.3, 95% CI 1.3-17.2), comorbidity score (OR 1.19; 95% CI 1.04-1.37; p=0.012), a total score on the scale of assessment of clinical status in CHF (OR 1.13; 95% CI 1.03-1.24; p=0.008). Conclusion. All СHF patients had concomitant diseases, CKD and obesity were the most common pathologies. The ischemic etiology of CHF, along with the male gender, LV EF less than 45%, severe clinical statusand high score on the Charlson comorbidity index turned out to be risk factors for death in outpatients aged 60 years and older with CHF.