title: Association of menopause and hormone replacement therapy with large artery remodeling.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the remodeling of large arteries according to age at menopause, duration of menopause, and use of hormone therapy (HT).
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study consisting of baseline measurements of a multicentric randomized trial were used to evaluate arterial parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands in academic hospitals and private clinics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Postmenopausal women (n = 538) with mild hypercholesterolemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  Common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT), central pulse pressure, and aortic stiffness (carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity) were measured and centrally controlled for quality. Multivariate regression analysis was used to assess the possible covariates associated with arterial parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women were 58 ± 6 (mean ± SD) years of age with an age of 50 ± 5 at menopause and a mean duration of menopause of 8 ± 7 years. Lower age at menopause, time since menopause, and absence of HT use were independently associated with worsening of the arterial parameters. After multivariate analysis, HT was associated with a lower CCA-IMT (-40 μm [range -64 to -1]), whereas lower age at menopause and menopause duration were respectively associated with a CCA-IMT increase (25 μm/5 y and 27 μm/5 y). Similarly, values of central pulse pressure and pulse wave velocity were lower in HT users (-3.1 mm Hg [-5.1 to -0.9] and -0.31 m/s [-0.63 to -0.02], respectively) but worsened with age at menopause and menopause duration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The age at menopause, the time since menopause, and the use of HT are independently associated with the thickening and stiffening of the large arteries.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  NCT00163163.
authors: Université Paris Descartes, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôtel-Dieu, Paris, France. anne.gompel@htd.aphp.fr
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Gompel
authors: Pierre
authors: P
authors: Boutouyrie
authors: Robinson
authors: R
authors: Joannides
authors: Sophie
authors: S
authors: Christin-Maitre
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Kearny-Schwartz
authors: Kristian
authors: K
authors: Kunz
authors: Stéphane
authors: S
authors: Laurent
authors: Jean-Marc
authors: JM
authors: Boivin
authors: Bruno
authors: B
authors: Pannier
authors: Bernard
authors: B
authors: Pornel
authors: Harry A J
authors: HA
authors: Struijker-Boudier
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Thuillez
authors: Luc
authors: L
authors: Van Bortel
authors: Faied
authors: F
authors: Zannad
authors: Isabelle
authors: I
authors: Pithois-Merli
authors: Patrice
authors: P
authors: Jaillon
authors: Tabassome
authors: T
authors: Simon
mesh_terms: D019412:Anatomy, Cross-Sectional; D001158:Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology