title: [Menstrual cycle irregularity as a marker of cardiovascular risk factors at postmenopausal years].
abstract: To evaluate the association between cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) during postmenopausal years and previous menstrual irregularity during reproductive years, we performed a case-control study in 414 postmenopausal women (mean age 60.4 +/- 5.5 years; BMI 25.3 +/- 4.7 kg/m(2)). The variables assessed were: menstrual cycle characteristics at age 2035y (independent) and records of arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and coronary heart disease (dependent). Statistical analysis used the chi-square test and logistic regression, adjusting for potential confounders for cardiovascular risk, with significance set at 5%. Women reporting previous menstrual irregularity were associated with increased risk for some CVRF [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 2.14; CI-95%=1,024.48], when compared with those reporting regular menstrual cycles. Stratified analysis demonstrated significant associations of previous menstrual irregularity with: arterial hypertension (OR= 2.74; CI-95%=1,395.41), hypercholesterolemia (OR= 2.32; CI-95%=1,174.59)), hypertriglyceridemia (OR= 2.09; CI-95%=1,104.33), and coronary angioplasty (OR= 6.82; CI-95%=1,4432.18). These data suggest that a prior history of menstrual irregularity, as indicative of polycystic ovary syndrome, may be related to increased risk for CVD during postmenopausal years.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN. georgedantas@uol.com.br
authors.forename: George D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Azevedo
authors.forename: João-Marcelo B P
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.forename: Maxwell O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Thiago D N
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Costa-E-Silva
authors.forename: Elvira M M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: Técia M O
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Maranhão
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017130:Angioplasty / Q000009:adverse effects; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000150:complications; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D008599:Menstruation Disturbances / Q000150:complications*; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D010507:Periodicity; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000517:prevention & control; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology*