New study finds link between cardiovascular risk and hip fracture
Postmenopausal women face a high risk of bone fractures. Due to declines in estrogen levels, which can lead to an increased risk of osteoporosis, even a low-impact fall can result in a serious hip, back or wrist injury. An estimated 1 in 3 women over 50 will experience a fracture due to bone loss in their lifetime.
A new study from Tulane University found that heart health may affect fracture risk after menopause, with women at a higher risk of cardiovascular disease more likely to experience hip and other major bone fractures.
In the study, published in The Lancet Regional Health - Americas, researchers used the American Heart Association’s recently developed PREVENT score to estimate a patient’s 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease. Women in the study were grouped as low, borderline, intermediate, or high risk.
