Heart Failure and Osteoporosis: Shared Challenges in the Aging Population
In clinical practice, heart failure (HF) and osteoporosis (OP) are commonly paired conditions. This association is particularly relevant in patients over the age of 50, among whom its prevalence increases dramatically with every decade of life. This can be especially impactful since patient prognosi...
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MDPI AG
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2308-3425/12/2/69 |
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| author | Roberto Spoladore Claudio Mario Ciampi Paolo Ossola Andrea Sultana Luigi Paolo Spreafico Andrea Farina Gabriele Fragasso |
| author_facet | Roberto Spoladore Claudio Mario Ciampi Paolo Ossola Andrea Sultana Luigi Paolo Spreafico Andrea Farina Gabriele Fragasso |
| author_sort | Roberto Spoladore |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In clinical practice, heart failure (HF) and osteoporosis (OP) are commonly paired conditions. This association is particularly relevant in patients over the age of 50, among whom its prevalence increases dramatically with every decade of life. This can be especially impactful since patient prognosis when facing both conditions is poorer than that of each disease alone. Clinical studies suggest that prior fractures increase the risk for heart failure hospitalization and, conversely, an episode of heart failure increases the risk of subsequent fractures. In other words, the relationship between osteoporosis and heart failure seems to be two-way, meaning that each condition may influence or contribute to the development of the other. However, the details of the pathophysiological relationship between HF and OP have yet to be revealed. The two conditions share multiple pathological mechanisms that seem to be intertwined. Patients affected by OP are more prone to develop HF because of vitamin D deficiency, elevation of parathyroid hormone (PTH) plasma levels, and increased Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 (FGF-23) activity. On the other hand, HF patients are more prone to develop OP and pathological fractures because of low vitamin D level, high PTH, chronic renal failure, alteration of renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system, reduced testosterone level, and metabolic effects derived from commonly used medications. Considering the increasingly aging worldwide population, clinicians can expect to see more often an overlap between these two conditions. Thus, it becomes crucial to recognize how HF and OP mutually influence the patient’s clinical condition. Clinicians attending these patients should utilize an integrated approach and, in order to improve prognosis, aim for early diagnosis and treatment initiation. The aim of this paper is to perform a review of the common pathophysiological mechanisms of OP and HF and identify potentially new treatment targets. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a3f5d6fc6ac2400cba5656940b10074f |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2308-3425 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease |
| spelling | doaj-art-a3f5d6fc6ac2400cba5656940b10074f2025-08-20T03:12:08ZengMDPI AGJournal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease2308-34252025-02-011226910.3390/jcdd12020069Heart Failure and Osteoporosis: Shared Challenges in the Aging PopulationRoberto Spoladore0Claudio Mario Ciampi1Paolo Ossola2Andrea Sultana3Luigi Paolo Spreafico4Andrea Farina5Gabriele Fragasso6Heart Failure Clinic, Division of Cardiology, Alessandro Manzoni Hospital, ASST Lecco, 23900 Lecco, ItalyHealth Science Department, University of Milan Bicocca, 20126 Milan, ItalyHealth Science Department, University of Milan Bicocca, 20126 Milan, ItalyHealth Science Department, University of Milan Bicocca, 20126 Milan, ItalyOrthopedics and Traumatology Unit, San Paolo University Hospital, 20142 Milan, ItalyHeart Failure Clinic, Division of Cardiology, Alessandro Manzoni Hospital, ASST Lecco, 23900 Lecco, ItalyHeart Failure Clinic, Division of Cardiology, IRCCS San Raffaele University Hospital, 20132 Milan, ItalyIn clinical practice, heart failure (HF) and osteoporosis (OP) are commonly paired conditions. This association is particularly relevant in patients over the age of 50, among whom its prevalence increases dramatically with every decade of life. This can be especially impactful since patient prognosis when facing both conditions is poorer than that of each disease alone. Clinical studies suggest that prior fractures increase the risk for heart failure hospitalization and, conversely, an episode of heart failure increases the risk of subsequent fractures. In other words, the relationship between osteoporosis and heart failure seems to be two-way, meaning that each condition may influence or contribute to the development of the other. However, the details of the pathophysiological relationship between HF and OP have yet to be revealed. The two conditions share multiple pathological mechanisms that seem to be intertwined. Patients affected by OP are more prone to develop HF because of vitamin D deficiency, elevation of parathyroid hormone (PTH) plasma levels, and increased Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 (FGF-23) activity. On the other hand, HF patients are more prone to develop OP and pathological fractures because of low vitamin D level, high PTH, chronic renal failure, alteration of renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system, reduced testosterone level, and metabolic effects derived from commonly used medications. Considering the increasingly aging worldwide population, clinicians can expect to see more often an overlap between these two conditions. Thus, it becomes crucial to recognize how HF and OP mutually influence the patient’s clinical condition. Clinicians attending these patients should utilize an integrated approach and, in order to improve prognosis, aim for early diagnosis and treatment initiation. The aim of this paper is to perform a review of the common pathophysiological mechanisms of OP and HF and identify potentially new treatment targets.https://www.mdpi.com/2308-3425/12/2/69osteoporosisheart failurebone metabolismelderly age |
| spellingShingle | Roberto Spoladore Claudio Mario Ciampi Paolo Ossola Andrea Sultana Luigi Paolo Spreafico Andrea Farina Gabriele Fragasso Heart Failure and Osteoporosis: Shared Challenges in the Aging Population Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease osteoporosis heart failure bone metabolism elderly age |
| title | Heart Failure and Osteoporosis: Shared Challenges in the Aging Population |
| title_full | Heart Failure and Osteoporosis: Shared Challenges in the Aging Population |
| title_fullStr | Heart Failure and Osteoporosis: Shared Challenges in the Aging Population |
| title_full_unstemmed | Heart Failure and Osteoporosis: Shared Challenges in the Aging Population |
| title_short | Heart Failure and Osteoporosis: Shared Challenges in the Aging Population |
| title_sort | heart failure and osteoporosis shared challenges in the aging population |
| topic | osteoporosis heart failure bone metabolism elderly age |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2308-3425/12/2/69 |
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