Cardiovascular hemodynamics during stress in premenopausal versus postmenopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
After menopause, women are at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The present study assessed cardiovascular hemodynamics in premenopausal versus postmenopausal women, with a focus on systemic vascular resistance (SVR) at rest and during stress. Sympathetic nervous system activity and cardiovascular adrenergic receptor (AR) function were also examined.


METHODS
A total of 90 women (45 premenopausal and 45 postmenopausal) completed a laboratory protocol composed of a resting baseline and four mental stress tasks. Measurements included blood pressure, cardiac output, SVR, and plasma catecholamine level. In addition, alpha- and beta-AR responsiveness to the infusion of selective pharmacological agonists was assessed.


RESULTS
Compared with premenopausal women, postmenopausal women were characterized by similar blood pressure but lower cardiac output and higher SVR, both at rest and during stress (Ps < 0.05). Postmenopausal women also had higher baseline plasma norepinephrine levels (P = 0.007) and reduced beta-AR responsiveness (P = 0.02), although differences in beta-AR responsiveness may have been confounded by aging effects.


CONCLUSIONS
After menopause, women exhibit altered sympathetic nervous system activity and a sustained increase in hemodynamic load that may contribute to pathological structural and functional changes in the heart and blood vessels.
Sherwood
Andrew
A
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. sherw002@mc.duke.edu
Park
Sat Byul
SB
Hughes
Joel W
JW
Blumenthal
James A
JA
Hinderliter
Alan
A
Trivedi
Ranak
R
McFetridge-Durdle
Judith
J
D001794:Blood Pressure; D002302:Cardiac Output; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology*; D017697:Premenopause / Q000502:physiology*; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic / Q000502:physiology; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000502:physiology; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology*
D002395:Catecholamines; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta