title: Menopause and metabolic syndrome in tunisian women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to evaluate the effect of menopausal status on the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Tunisian women.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed a total of 2680 women aged between 35 and 70 years. Blood pressure, anthropometric indices, fasting glucose, and lipid profile were measured. The MetS was assessed by the modified NCEP-ATPIII definition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean values of waist circumference, blood pressure, plasma lipids, and fasting glucose were significantly higher in postmenopausal than in premenopausal women, a difference that was no longer present when adjusting for age. Except for hypertriglyceridaemia, the frequency of central obesity, hyperglycemia, high blood pressure, and high total cholesterol was significantly higher in postmenopausal than in premenopausal women. After adjusting for age, the significance persisted only for hyperglycemia. The overall prevalence of MetS was 35.9%, higher in postmenopausal (45.7% versus 25.6%) than in premenopausal women. A binary logistic regression analysis showed that menopause was independently associated with MetS (OR = 1.41, 95% CI 1.10-1.82) after adjusting for age, residence area, marital status, family history of cardiovascular disease, education level, and occupation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study provides evidence that the MetS is highly prevalent in this group of women. Menopause can be a predictor of MetS independent of age in Tunisian women.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Epidemiology and Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Faculty of Medicine, 15 rue Djebel Akdhar, La Rabta, Bab Saâdoun, 1007 Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Samir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ben Ali
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Epidemiology and Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Faculty of Medicine, 15 rue Djebel Akdhar, La Rabta, Bab Saâdoun, 1007 Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Hanen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Belfki-Benali
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Epidemiology and Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Faculty of Medicine, 15 rue Djebel Akdhar, La Rabta, Bab Saâdoun, 1007 Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Hajer
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aounallah-Skhiri
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR 204 NUTRIPASS, IRD-UM1-UM2, 911 Avenue Agropolis, 34394 Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Traissac
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR 204 NUTRIPASS, IRD-UM1-UM2, 911 Avenue Agropolis, 34394 Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Maire
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR 204 NUTRIPASS, IRD-UM1-UM2, 911 Avenue Agropolis, 34394 Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Delpeuch
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Epidemiology and Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Faculty of Medicine, 15 rue Djebel Akdhar, La Rabta, Bab Saâdoun, 1007 Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Noureddine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Achour
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Epidemiology and Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Faculty of Medicine, 15 rue Djebel Akdhar, La Rabta, Bab Saâdoun, 1007 Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Habiba
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ben Romdhane
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008593:Menopause; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology; D016387:Women's Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*