| Objective To investigate the correlation between osteoporosis and carotid atherosclerosis in the elderly, and to find out the relationship among the carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), the diameter of atherosclerotic plaque, and the T-value of the bone mineral density (BMD). Methods One hundred senile patients from the Out-patient and In-patient Department of Geriatrics in the Second People’s Hospital were selected. BMD of the lumbar vertebrae and the femur was detected using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). At the same time, color Doppler ultrasound was applied to detect the IMT of the common carotid artery and the internal carotid artery. The condition of atherosclerotic plaque was also detected. According to the degree of carotid artery lesions, patients were divided into 3 groups: Group A (no-lesion group), Group B (minor lesion group), and Group C (moderate lesion group). Results The serum levels of TG, HDL-C, and BALP in Group C were significantly lower than those in Group A, while the levels of TC and LDL-C were significantly higher than that in Group A (P<0.05). The serum level of BALP in Group B was significantly lower than that in Group A (P<0.05). And the serum level of BALP in Group C was significantly lower than that in Group B (P<0.05). BMD of the lumbar vertebrae (L2-4) and the femoral neck in Group C was significantly lower than that in Group A, and BMD of the femoral neck in Group C was significantly lower than that in Group B, while BMD of the femoral neck in Group B was significantly lower than that in Group A (P<0.01). Conclusion The elderly patients with severe carotid atherosclerosis have a lower BMD, compared with the patients with no-lesions or minor lesions. Enhanced BMD detection during the follow-up and physical examination of the elderly patients with carotid atherosclerosis may have positive significance. |