title: Vasomotor symptoms and lipid profiles in women transitioning through menopause.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine associations between vasomotor symptoms and lipids over 8 years, controlling for other cardiovascular risk factors, estradiol, and follicle-stimulating hormone.
  
  
  METHODS
  Study of Women's Health Across the Nation participants (N=3,201), aged 42-52 years at entry, completed interviews on frequency of hot flushes and night sweats (none, 1-5 days, 6 days or more, in the past 2 weeks) physical measures (blood pressure, height, weight), and blood draws (low-density lipoprotein [LDL], high-density lipoprotein [HDL], apolipoprotein A-1, apolipoprotein B, lipoprotein[a], triglycerides, serum estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone) yearly for 8 years. Relations between symptoms and lipids were examined in linear mixed models adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors, medications, and hormones.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with no flushes, experiencing hot flushes was associated with significantly higher LDL (1-5 days: β [standard error]=1.48 [0.47], P<.01; 6 days or more: β [standard error]=2.13 [0.62], P<.001), HDL (1-5 days: β [standard error]=0.30 [0.18]; 6 days or more: β [standard error]=0.77 [0.24], P<.01), apolipoprotein A-1 (1-5 days: β [standard error]=0.92 [0.47], P<.10; 6 days or more: β [standard error]=1.97 [0.62], P<.01), apolipoprotein B (1-5 days: β [standard error]=1.41 [0.41], P<.001; 6 days or more: β [standard error]=2.51 [0.54], P<.001), and triglycerides (1-5 days: percent change [95% confidence interval]=2.91 [1.41-4.43], P<.001; 6 days or more: percent change [95% confidence interval[=5.90 [3.86-7.97], P<.001) in multivariable models. Findings largely persisted adjusting for hormones. Estimated mean differences in lipid levels between hot flushes 6 days or more compared with no days ranged from less than 1 (for HDL) to 10 mg/dL (for triglycerides). Night sweats were similar. Associations were strongest for lean women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vasomotor symptoms were associated with higher LDL, HDL, apolipoprotein A-1, apolipoprotein B, and triglycerides. Lipids should be considered in links between hot flushes and cardiovascular risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  II.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. thurstonrc@upmc.edu
authors.forename: Rebecca C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Thurston
authors.forename: Samar R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: El Khoudary
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sutton-Tyrrell
authors.forename: Carolyn J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Crandall
authors.forename: Ellen B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Gold
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sternfeld
authors.forename: Hadine
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Joffe
authors.forename: Faith
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Selzer
authors.forename: Karen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Matthews
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008593:Menopause / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013546:Sweating / Q000502:physiology; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*; D014666:Vasomotor System / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D008074:Lipoproteins; D014280:Triglycerides; D004958:Estradiol; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone