The relationship of serum androgens and ovulatory status to blood pressure in reproductive-age women.
The objective of this cross-sectional study was to determine the relationship between hyperandrogenemia and blood pressure in women with menstrual irregularities seen at an endocrinology clinic. Women with serum testosterone levels (T) > or = 30 ng/dL were more likely to have general obesity (odds ratio [OR] = 6.8, 95% confidence intervals [CI] = 2.2-27.2) and central obesity (OR = 14.5, 95% CI = 6.1-38.7) than euandrogenemic women. Hyperandrogenemic women (HA) had an OR of 2.4 (95% CI = 1.0-6.2) for elevated SBP and an OR of 2.7 (95% CI = 0.8-8.8) for elevated DBP, independent of age and ovulatory status. Obese HA had an OR of 4.7 (95% CI = 2.3-10.4) for elevated SBP and an OR of 2.9 (95% CI = 1.9-9.9) for elevated DBP. In conclusion, T is associated with an increased risk for obesity and central adiposity. T predicts BP elevation independent of age and ovulatory status. There was a synergistic relationship between obesity and androgens in their affect on BP.
Ayala
C
C
Texas Institute for Reproductive Medicine and Endocrinology, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston 77054, USA. yocarm@juno.com
Steinberger
E
E
Sweeney
A
A
Mueller
W H
WH
Waller
D K
DK
Hardy
R
R
Petak
S M
SM
Rodriguez-Rigau
L J
LJ
Smith
K D
KD
D000005:Abdomen / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017588:Hyperandrogenism / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008599:Menstruation Disturbances / Q000097:blood; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010060:Ovulation / Q000502:physiology*
D000728:Androgens