Postmenopausal women face a high chance of bone fractures partly because estrogen levels fall after menopause. The study examined whether cardiovascular risk and fracture risk are linked in this group, using data from more than 21,000 women in the Women’s Health Initiative.
Published in The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, the research used the American Heart Association’s PREVENT score (developed in 2024) to estimate 10-year heart disease risk and grouped participants as low, borderline, intermediate or high. The strongest association was with hip fractures: women in the high-risk group had a 93% higher hip fracture risk than those in the low group, and the intermediate group had a 33% higher risk. The link was stronger for women under 65.
Researchers suggested several biological processes that could explain the connection, including chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, changes in calcium regulation and reduced blood flow to bone. They noted that many habits that protect the heart—regular activity, a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D, not smoking, and managing diabetes and high blood pressure—also protect bones. The PREVENT score may help identify women who could benefit from bone screening, but more work is needed before adding it to standard fracture tools.
Difficult words
- postmenopausal — After a woman's menstrual periods have stopped permanently
- fracture — A break or crack in a bonefractures
- estrogen — A female hormone that helps keep bone strong
- cardiovascular — Related to the heart and blood vessels
- association — A connection or link between two things
- chronic inflammation — Long-term swelling and immune activity in the body
- oxidative stress — Damage to cells caused by reactive oxygen molecules
- calcium regulation — Body processes that control calcium levels and balance
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Discussion questions
- Do you think using a heart disease risk score to identify women for bone screening is a good idea? Why or why not?
- Which of the lifestyle habits mentioned would you try to protect both your heart and bones? Give one or two reasons.
- Why might the link between heart risk and hip fracture be stronger for women under 65?
