title: Prevalence and risk factors of hypertension among pre- and post-menopausal women: a cross-sectional study in a rural area of northeast China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and risk factors of hypertension in pre-menopausal women (Pre-MW) and post-menopausal women (Post-MW) and determine whether years since menopause (YSM) is associated with hypertension.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted with 6324 women over 35 years of age (2616 Pre-MW and 3708 Post-MW). Questionnaires, measurements and blood biochemical indexes were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence of hypertension among women in rural northeast China was 48.8%, and it increased with age. Post-MW had a higher prevalence of hypertension than Pre-MW (62.4% vs. 29.7%, P<0.01). After controlling for confounding variables, overweight (OR=1.97, 95% CI: 1.72-2.25), obesity (OR=2.97, 95% CI: 2.30-3.84), diabetes mellitus (OR=2.13, 95% CI: 1.73-2.62), high triglycerides (OR=1.41, 95% CI: 1.20-1.65), and history of cardiovascular diseases in first-degree relatives (OR=1.60, 95% CI: 1.42-1.81) were associated with hypertension in all participants. However, abdominal obesity (OR=1.29, 95% CI: 1.05-1.58) was associated with higher odds among Post-MW only. Hypertension was associated with being postmenopausal (OR=1.22; 95% CI: 1.03-1.46), and the risk of hypertension reached a peak level in the <5-year group (OR=1.29; 95% CI, 1.07-1.57).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Postmenopausal status was an independent risk factor for hypertension. The risk of hypertension was highest in Post-MW with <5 YSM and then decreased. Other risk factors of hypertension were body mass index (BMI), abdominal obesity, a family history of cardiovascular disease among first-degree relatives, a personal history of diabetes, and high TG.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
authors.forename: Xinghu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
authors.forename: Xiaofan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
authors.forename: Guozhe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
authors.forename: Zhao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Library, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
authors.forename: Liqiang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
authors.forename: Hongmei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
authors.forename: Shasha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
authors.forename: Wenna
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China. Electronic address: yxsun@mail.cmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yingxian
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016387:Women's Health
keywords: Hypertension; Post-menopausal women; Pre-menopausal women; Risk factors; Years since menopause