Changes in Exercise Patterns in Menopausal Women at Low-Intermediate Risk for Cardiovascular Disease: A Prospective Survey Study.
BACKGROUND
We aim to describe changes in exercise habits and barriers to physical activity over 5 years in menopausal women at low-intermediate risk for cardiovascular disease.


METHODS
Women in the Stress Echocardiography in Menopausal Women at Risk for Coronary Artery Disease trial were prospectively enrolled in a multisite study from 2004 to 2007. Inclusion criteria were as follows: peri- and postmenopausal women with symptoms and/or risk factors for cardiovascular disease resulting in referral for stress echocardiography. A questionnaire, which assessed details of medical history, physical activity, and body mass index (BMI), was administered at baseline and 5 years.


RESULTS
216 menopausal women (62.5% hypertensive, 15.3% diabetic, 52.3% prior or current smokers) were studied. At baseline, age was 54.9 ± 4.8 years, BMI was 30.7 ± 6.4 kg/m2, and Framingham risk score was 4.05% ± 3.76%. One hundred women (46.3%) were obese, 79 (36.6%) overweight, and 37 (17.1%) had a normal BMI. Women changed their self-reported aerobic exercise patterns in similar patterns regardless of their BMI at baseline. There was low participation in strength training among all women. Mean BMI decreased by 0.12 kg/m2in obese women and increased by 1.63 kg/m2in normal BMI women at 5 years (p < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that women can increase their level of physical activity regardless of BMI and that overweight or obese status is not a barrier to initiating an aerobic, nonaerobic, or strength training exercise routine.
1 Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic , Rochester, Minnesota.
Caroline
C
Ball
2 Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic , Rochester, Minnesota.
Sahar S
SS
Abdelmoneim
2 Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic , Rochester, Minnesota.
Runqing
R
Huang
2 Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic , Rochester, Minnesota.
Sue
S
Eifert-Rain
3 Azienda Ospedaliera Santa Maria Nuova di Reggio Emilia , Italy .
Francesca
F
Mantovani
4 Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic , Scottsdale, Arizona.
Susan
S
Wilansky
2 Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic , Rochester, Minnesota.
Sharon L
SL
Mulvagh
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D025401:Echocardiography, Stress / Q000379:methods*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D015444:Exercise; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications; D017698:Postmenopause; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires