Menopause, Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Hormone Replacement Therapy

pp 41-52

Abstract

Background and objectives

The aims of this study were to determine the cardiovascular risk factors in pre and postmenopausal women, and to evaluate their possible modifications after hormone replacement therapy.

Methods and results

A total of 101 patients, 23 premenopausal and 78 post-menopausal women were included in our study. Mayor risk factors for coronary artery disease and educational level were evaluated in all the patients. There were no significant differences between the premenopausal and postmenopausal groups regarding risk factors incidence. Patients in the postmenopausal group were followed for 8.48 months. Forty-six of them received hormone replacement therapy. This group had at least one of the major risk factors. Follow-up control visits were every 3 months. Evaluation was performed by cardiologists and gynecologists: blood lipid levels were also controlled. A 10.67 % decrease in serum levels of total cholesterol and an increase of 11.67 % of high density lipoprotein cholesterolwas observedin women receiving hormone replacement therapy. Initial lipid levels were significantly modified at 3.41 and 8.48 months (p< 0.001 and p< 0.05, respectively). There was a slight, though not statistically significant, tendency for lower arterial blood pressure values at follow-up in this group. Cardiovascular complications occurred in one patients.