OP0038 Vertebral fractures prevalence and abdominal aortic calcification in men

Background Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of mortality among men. Vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) imaging with a bone densitometercan simultaneously detect prevalent VFs and AAC an important cardiovascular disease risk factor independent of clinical risk factors. Objectives to study the relation between the prevalence and severity of VFs using VFA in asymptomatic men and the prevalence and severity of AAC. Methods we enrolled 709 men with mean ± SD (range) age, weight and BMI of 62.4±8.6 (45 to 89) years, 75.9±12.9 (40 to 163) and 26.4±4.0 (16.6 to 43.8) kg/m 2 , respectively. Lateral VFA images and scans of the lumbar spine and proximal femur were obtained using a GE Healthcare Lunar Prodigy densitometer. VFs were defined using a combination of Genant semiquantitative (SQ) approach and morphometry. VFA images were scored for AAC using a previously validated 24 point scale. Results VFs were identified using VFA in 475 (40.3%): 166 (26.0%) had grade 1 and 68 (14.2%) had at least one grade 2 or 3 vertebral fracture. The prevalence of grade 2/3 vertebral fractures was 42 (38.9%) in men with osteoporosis and was higher (p Conclusions VFA imaging has the potential to contribute to identification of sub-clinical cardiovascular disease in men. Disclosure of Interest None Declared