Abstract
BackgroundWomen after menopause increase risk for cardiovascular disease and several factors may be related. The purpose was to study biological and psychosocial factors associated with early cardiovascular damage in pre- and postmenopausal women, assessed with carotid intima-media thickness vs flow-mediated dilatation.MethodsWomen 45 to 57 years old were grouped in the pre- (n = 60), early (n = 58) and late post-menopause (n = 59). Anthropometric, metabolic and hormonal data were registered, as well as measures of depression, anxiety, submission, perceived stress, and sleep alterations. Heart Rate Variability was recorded to obtain the information regarding sympathovagal balance. Carotid intima-media thickness and flow-mediated dilatation were assessed by ultrasound. Two-way ANOVA and multiple regression model were used.ResultsAt late postmenopause, the carotid intima-media was thicker (p < 0.001) and flow-mediated dilatation decreased (p < 0.001). Carotid intima-media thickness was associated positively with age (p < 0.001), submission score (p = 0.029), follicle stimulating hormone levels (p < 0.001), and body mass index (p = 0.009). Flow-mediated dilatation was associated only with age (p < 0.001). Regarding heart rate variability, the time domain pNN50 measurement was higher in premenopausal women (p = 0.001), Low Frequency (LF) was higher in the two groups of postmenopausal (p = 0.001) and High Frequency (HF) higher in the early postmenopausal women (p = 0.042).ConclusionsUnder our conditions carotid intima-media thickness had higher predictive value for early cardiovascular damage at menopause. The finding of the association of the submission score, indicates de influence of stress on vascular damage.
Highlights
Women after menopause increase risk for cardiovascular disease and several factors may be related
Considering the need for a reliable clinical evaluation of early cardiovascular risk, we studied biological and psychosocial factors associated with early cardiovascular damage in pre- and postmenopausal women, assessed with carotid intima-media thickness as a measure of subclinical atherosclerosis vs flow-mediated dilatation as a measure of endothelial function
The triglyceride levels, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-Cholesterol were higher at postmenopause (p = 0.009, and p < 0.001 respectively)
Summary
Women after menopause increase risk for cardiovascular disease and several factors may be related. Anxiety and sleep alterations attributed to low estrogen levels with the interaction of psychosocial conditions [2]. Women, at this period of their life may have hot flashes, associated with mood alterations that may be related to the influence of psychosocial conditions and the perception of their role in society [3]. The incidence for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) sharply increases after 50 years of age, making them the main cause of death in mature women, exceeding all cancer deaths [6]
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