Those who have experienced congestive heart failure are far more likely to suffer a bone fracture, new research suggests.

Canadian scientists looked at statistics from more than 16,000 heart patients and discovered a quadrupled risk of fracture among those who had heart failure – a condition in which the heart is unable to pump enough blood to other organs.

“This is the first study to link heart failure patients to a higher risk of fractures,” commented senior author of the study Justin Ezekowitz.

A total of 4.6 percent of heart failure patients had broken bones during the year following their hospital admission, compared with the 1 percent of people with different heart conditions who suffered fractures.

The researchers said they were not sure why the link was present, but they suggested that patients may not be exercising enough or may have a lack of vitamin D or calcium.

Some health experts have suggested that nutritional supplements of vitamin D may be necessary for many people to consume adequate levels of the vitamin, as few foods naturally contain it.