Association of Menopausal Status with Cardiovascular Risk Factors: Insights from the MASHAD Cohort Study

Menopause has been shown to be associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Different studies have evaluated the association between various CVD risk factors and menopause, which were not consistent across all risk factors. We aimed to assess the association of menopausal status with CVD risk factors in a large population-based study. We enrolled ۵۸۵۷ women from the MASHAD cohort study aged between ۳۵ and ۶۵ years in a cross-sectional study. Participants were allocated to three groups based on their menopausal status according to the questionnaire: pre-menopause (still having menstruation), natural menopause (having no menstruation in the last ۱۲ months), and surgical menopause. Characteristic data, physical measurements, biochemical investigations, and anxiety and depression status were obtained using questionnaires and standard laboratory techniques. Data were analyzed using SPSS ۲۱, and p < ۰.۰۵ was considered significant. Serum levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglyceride (TG) were higher, and high-density lipoprotein was lower, significantly among menopausal women in comparison to pre-menopausal women. Fasting serum glucose (FSG), uric acid (UA), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) enzymes were significantly higher in both post-menopausal groups in comparison to the pre-menopause group (p < ۰.۰۰۱). Moreover, after adjusting for age, association analysis revealed that naturally and surgically menopausal women had higher odds of having an ALT> ۱۵ (mg/dl), triglyceride (TG), UA, depression, and anxiety scores, while they had lower odds of having a nightly sleep > ۴۲۰ minutes each day (p <۰.۰۵). Menopause, particularly surgical menopause, was associated with an unfavorable cardiometabolic profile, including higher levels of FSG, total cholesterol, LDL-C, triglycerides, hs-CRP, uric acid, and ALT, as well as shorter sleep duration and greater anxiety and depression, suggesting an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. These findings highlight the need for comprehensive cardiovascular risk assessment and targeted preventive strategies for menopausal women.

کلیدواژه ها:

Menopause ، Menstruation ، Cardiovascular Disease ، Risk Factor ، Lipid Profile ، Anthropometric measurements.