Differences in the lipid profile and hormone replacement therapy use in Korean postmenopausal women: the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2010-2012.

Eun Young Ki,Jong Sup Park,Kyung Do Han,Soo Young Hur,Yong Gyu Park

doi:10.1007/s00404-015-3982-9

Abstract

PurposeHormonal changes after menopause can cause dyslipidemia by the cessation of endogenous estrogen. We analyzed the lipid profile of the Korean healthy menopausal women according to the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT).MethodsData obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2010–2012 were analyzed. The study included 428 healthy postmenopausal women with HRT (HRT group) and 1804 healthy postmenopausal women without HRT (NHRT group).ResultsAfter adjustment for confounding factors, total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) were lower in the HRT group than in the NHRT group (TC: 200.1 ± 2.0 vs. 204.9 ± 1.1, P = 0.04; LDL: 120.3 ± 1.0 vs. 124.5 ± 1.0 mg/ml, P = 0.033). Triglycerides (TG) were lower in the HRT group than in the NHRT group [106.8, (95 % CI 99.8–114.3) vs. 115.1 (95 % CI 111.8–118.5), P = 0.04]. Non-high-density lipoprotein (HDL) was lower in the HRT group than in the NHRT group (145.4 ± 1.9 vs. 151.2 ± 1.0 mg/ml, P = 0.008). Patients with HRT were lower in the LDL cholesterol level (OR 0.601, 95 % CI 0.397–0.917, P = 0.018), the total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein ratio (OR 0.787, 95 % CI 0.617–0.997, P = 0.016), and the non-HDL level (OR 0.68, 95 % CI 0.509–0.907, P = 0.009).ConclusionThe results of this study suggest that the use of HRT may have a positive effect on dyslipidemia in postmenopausal women.

Highlights

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a fatal disease in both men and women, increasing average life span and obese people’s attention to CHD
As for anthropometric factors, body mass index (BMI) and Waist circumference (WC) were higher in the NHRT group than in Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) group
As for lipid variables, total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), TG, and nonHDL were lower in the HRT group than in the NHRT group [TC: 199.4 ± 2.0 vs. 205.8 ± 1.1 mg/ml, P = 0.007; LDL: 119.5 ± 1.8 vs. 125.1 ± 1.0 mg/ml, P = 0.006; TG: 105.0 vs. 115.9, P = 0.013; non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL): 144.0 ± 1.9 vs. 152.0 ± 1.1 mg/ml, P \ 0.001]

Summary

Introduction

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a fatal disease in both men and women, increasing average life span and obese people’s attention to CHD. The relative risk of CHDrelated death is increased in men (2.5–4.5) compared to women at a younger age [1]. As for age-specific incidence, the number of CHD events in men equals to that in women 10 years older. The male/female mortality ratio is 5:1 for those aged 35–44 years, and 1.5:1 for those aged over 75 years [2]. Gender differences seem to delay the risk of CHD by 10 years, a time shift usually attributed to female sex hormones. It is postulated that changes in endogenous hormones during or after menopause transition explain most of the gender differences in CHD [3]

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