Body mass index and its correlation to metabolic and hormone parameters in postmenopausal Spanish women.
OBJECTIVE
To assess body weight composition in postmenopausal women and determine correlations with metabolic and hormonal parameters.


METHODS
Medical records of 574 postmenopausal Caucasian Spanish women first time attending a menopause clinic were retrospectively reviewed. Retrieved information included general demographic data, type of menopause, time since menopause onset and baseline hormonal and metabolic parameters. A body mass index (BMI) value of >28.8 kg/m(2) was used to define obesity. The metabolic syndrome (METS) was diagnosed with three or more criteria: fasting glycemia ≥ 100 mg/dL, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) <50 mg/dL, triglycerides (TG) ≥ 150 mg/dL, blood pressure ≥ 130/85 mmHg and obesity (as defined above).


RESULTS
Mean age of the whole cohort was 49.9 ± 6.1 years, with 66% having a natural menopause. A 38.9% and 23.1% of all women were obese or had the METS, respectively. Obese women were older, had a higher parity, smoked less, had more time since menopause onset and a higher rate of surgical menopause as compared to non-obese ones (p = 0.001). BMI values positively correlated with age, time since menopause, parity, and glucose, TG and systolic blood pressure levels; displaying an inverse correlation with HDL-C and SHBG levels. SHBG levels inversely correlated with glucose, TG, HDL-C and systolic blood pressure levels.


CONCLUSIONS
In this Spanish postmenopausal population BMI significantly increased with age, time since menopause and parity displaying significant correlations with hormonal and metabolic parameters.
Obstetrics and Gynecology Service, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, Hospital San Cecilio, Granada, Spain.
José L
JL
Cuadros
Ana M
AM
Fernández-Alonso
Angela M
AM
Cuadros
Peter
P
Chedraui
Faustino R
FR
Pérez-López
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D004958:Estradiol; D002784:Cholesterol