title: Vasomotor symptoms and metabolic syndrome in Korean postmenopausal women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to evaluate the association between vasomotor symptoms and risk of metabolic syndrome in Korean postmenopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  We carried out a cross-sectional study of 1,906 Korean postmenopausal women (aged 45-65 y) who were attending a routine health checkup at an institution in Korea from January 2010 to December 2012. To assess vasomotor symptoms, we created a dichotomous variable (none or present) using Menopause Rating Scale results. Metabolic syndrome was defined by the updated criteria of the National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 1,906 women were included in the analysis; 1,105 (58.0%) women reported some degree of vasomotor symptoms. Women with vasomotor symptoms were younger and had shorter duration of menopause, higher body mass index, larger waist circumference, more adverse lipid profile, and higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome compared with women without vasomotor symptoms. On multivariate analysis, vasomotor symptoms were associated with metabolic syndrome after adjusting for confounding factors, including age, body mass index, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, duration of menopause, alcohol consumption, current smoking, and physical exercise level (odds ratio, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.3-2.4; P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of vasomotor symptoms is associated with metabolic syndrome in Korean postmenopausal women. Lipid abnormalities and obesity seem to be important metabolic components associated with these symptoms. Vasomotor symptoms, if validated in longitudinal studies, may possibly serve as warning signs for identifying women at high risk for metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, South Korea 2Department of Biostatistics, Korea University College of Medicine, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Ki-Jin
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Hyun-Tae
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Dae Hui
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Kyung-Sook
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yong Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyong Wook
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: Jung Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Jun Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Hur
authors.forename: Tak
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D017698:Postmenopause; D015995:Prevalence; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014666:Vasomotor System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016387:Women's Health