Lipid profile of postmenopausal women

Abstract

Objectives: The main objectives of the research are to examine the incidence of hyperlipoproteinemia in postmenopausal women and to determine the differences in lipid profile considering age, duration of menopause and body mass index in postmenopausal women. Respondents and methods: The research is structured as cross-sectional with historical data. The research used data collected during regular check-ups in primary health care clinics in Osijek Health Center from November 2021 to March 2022. Collected data: demographic data, information on the duration of menopause, body mass, body height, body mass index, values of total, LDL, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides, and data on associated diseases. Results: 98 postmenopausal women were included in the research, of which over 50% had elevated total and LDL cholesterol values, and 39.8% had elevated triglyceride values. Subjects aged 45 to 65 years and subjects with a duration of menopause of 10 or more years had significantly higher values of total and LDL cholesterol while no difference was observed in the lipid profile with regard to the body mass index. Using the SCORE2 table, it was estimated that 65% of the subjects had a very high cardiovascular risk, and only 6% of the subjects achieved the target values of LDL cholesterol in accordance with the cardiovascular risk. Conclusion: There is a very high incidence of hyperlipoproteinemia in postmenopausal women, and the age and duration of menopause have an impact on the poorer achievement of the target values of the lipid profile, while the body mass index showed no impact. Given the high prevalence of subjects with a very high cardiovascular risk (SCORE 2 tables), intensive interventions are needed at all levels of health care, especially at the primary level of health care, which include non-pharmacological and pharmacological methods of treating hyperlipoproteinemia.