This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Data Supplement All Versions of this Article: 51/6/1492    most recent HYPERTENSIONAHA.107.106526v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Gast, G.-C. M. Articles by van der Schouw, Y. T. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Gast, G.-C. M. Articles by van der Schouw, Y. T. Related Collections Other etiology Epidemiology

(Hypertension. 2008;51:1492.)
© 2008 American Heart Association, Inc.

Original Articles

Menopausal Complaints Are Associated With Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Gerrie-Cor M. Gast; Diederick E. Grobbee; Victor J.M. Pop; Jules J. Keyzer; Colette J.M. Wijnands-van Gent; Göran N. Samsioe; Peter M. Nilsson; Yvonne T. van der Schouw

From the Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care (G.C.M.G., D.E.G., Y.T.v.d.S.), University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands; the Department of Clinical Health Psychology (V.J.M.P.), University of Tilburg, Tilburg, The Netherlands; Research Unit (J.J.K., C.J.M.W.-v.G.), Diagnostic Center Eindhoven, Eindhoven, The Netherlands; the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (G.C.M.G., G.N.S.), Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden; and the Department of Clinical Sciences Medicine (P.M.N.), University Hospital, University of Lund, Malmö, Sweden.

Correspondence to Gerrie-Cor M. Gast, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Room STR 6.131, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands. E-mail G.C.M.Gast{at}umcutrecht.nl

It has been hypothesized that women with vasomotor symptoms differ from those without with respect to cardiovascular risk factors or responses to exogenous hormone therapy. We studied whether the presence and extent of menopausal complaints are associated with cardiovascular risk profile. Data were used from a population-based sample of 5523 women, aged 46 to 57 years, enrolled between 1994 and 1995. Data on menopausal complaints and potential confounders were collected by questionnaires. Total cholesterol, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and body mass index were measured. Linear and logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the data. Night sweats were reported by 38% and flushing by 39% of women. After multivariate adjustment, women with complaints of flushing had a 0.27-mmol/L (95% CI: 0.15 to 0.39) higher cholesterol level, a 0.60-kg/m² (95% CI: 0.35 to 0.84) higher BMI, a 1.59-mm Hg (95% CI: 0.52 to 2.67) higher systolic blood pressure, and a 1.09-mm Hg (95% CI: 0.48 to 1.69) higher diastolic blood pressure compared with asymptomatic women. Flushing was also associated with hypercholesterolemia (odds ratio: 1.52; 95% CI: 1.25 to 1.84) and hypertension (OR: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.07 to 1.34). Results were similar for complaints of night sweating. The findings support the view that menopausal complaints are associated with a less favorable cardiovascular risk profile. These findings substantiate the view that differences in the presence of menopausal symptoms as a reason for using hormone therapy could explain discrepant findings between observational research and trials.

Key Words: menopausal complaints • cholesterol • blood pressure • body mass index • cardiovascular risk profile • women

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Hot Flashes Might Bring More Than Sweating Journal Watch Women's Health, June 5, 2008; 2008(605): 3 - 3. [Full Text]