Midlife lipid changes found more related to the menopause than to ageing

Menopause International Vol. 16 No. 1 March 2010

There is little dispute that a woman’s risk of cardiovascular disease increases around the time of the menopause, but there is controversy as to why this is. An age association, or a menopause association? And so far, according to epidemiologist Kim Sutton-Tyrrell, there are ‘no good data in the literature’ as to whether this increase in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among postmenopausal women is a function of
ovarian ageing or chronological ageing. Now, the latest report from the
Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN) study, a prospective study of the menopause transition in more than 3000 American women, suggests that women experience substantial increases in total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein B around the time of their final menstrual period ‘consistent with menopause-induced changes’the literature’ as to whether this increase in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among postmenopausal women is a function of ovarian ageing or chronological ageing the literature’ as to whether this increase in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among postmenopausal women is a function of ovarian ageing or chronological ageing. Commenting on the study in an editorial accompanying the report, Dr Vera Bittner, from the University of Alabama, said: ‘It is important for women to understand that their [cardiovascular] risk factors change during the perimenopausal years and that they need to be vigilant to do everything that they can do to prevent any adverse changes related to lifestyle: avoid weight gain, get plenty of exercise, eat well, etc.’ She added that it is also important for physicians to assess perimenopausal women to determine ‘whetherthey now meet treatment thresholds for lipids.