Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk increases after menopause which
may be related to metabolic and hormonal changes. Menopause is a risk factor of
CVD because estrogen withdrawal affects cardiovascular function and metabolism.
Objective: To recognize the risk of menopause as a risk factor of cardiovascular
disease. Subject and Methods: 500 women living in Azazzi village, Sharkia
Governorate and aged between 45-55 years were invited to attend the health unit for
participation in this cross-sectional study, during the period from February-to-August,
2008. Only 270 women shared in the study after exclusion of the unfit and refusing
women. All women were subjected to a well designed questionnaire, measuring blood
pressure, weight and height for BMI calculation, serum samples for FSH and E2
hormones and blood samples for lipids, lipoproteins and glucose. The collected data
were analyzed by using the mean, standard deviation and multivariate analysis (SPSS
statistics program). Results: The study showed a significant relation between the
menopause and systolic blood pressure (p<0.001), total cholesterol (p<0.001), LDLcholesterol
(p<0.05) and triglycerides (p<0.001). Also, there was a significant relation
with age (p<0,001), current smoking (p<0.05) and BMI (P<0.05). Conclusion:
Menopause is a predisposing factor of cardiovascular disease because it is
accompanied with increased lipids, lipoproteins, systolic blood pressure and
withdrawal of estrogen hormone which causes changes in function and metabolism of
cardiovascular system. Recommendations: The menopausal women should be
educated to control hypertension and diabetes. The reproductive hormone therapy
should be under medical supervision. They should be advised to stop smoking, do
regular exercise and maintain normal body weight. |
