An analysis of data from SWAN underscores the importance of monitoring women going through menopause for cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors.
©violetkaipa - stock.adobe.com
An analysis of data from the Study of Women’s Health Around the Nation (SWAN) underscores the importance of monitoring women going through menopause for cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. The findings, which focus on arterial stiffness within 1 year of the final menstrual period (FMP), point to a particular need to counsel black women early about lifestyle modifications to improve heart health.
Published in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, the research was an evaluation of 339 SWAN participants who had ≤ 2 carotid-femoral pulse-wave velocity (cfPWV) exams over a mean±SD of 2.3±5 years of follow-up. (cfPWV is a measure of aortic wall stiffness.) The aim was to determine whether and when women experience changes in arterial stiffness relative to their FMP and if those changes differ between black and white women.
Methods
The authors estimated annual percentage changes in cfPWV in three time segments relative to FMP: more than 1 year before FMP (segment 1), within 1 year of FMP (segment 2), and more than 1 year after FMP (segment 3). Piecewise linear mixed-effects models were used to estimate and compare annual changes in cfPWV among time segments.
At baseline, women were 51.1±2.8 years of age and 36% of them were black. They completed self- and interviewer-administered questionnaires on sociodemographic and lifestyle factors and medical history at visits that coincided with their cfPWV exams. Physical activity, menopause status, and use of medications for cholesterol, blood pressure and diabetes also were self-reported and assessed.
Findings
The authors found that annual percentage change (95% confidence interval [CI]) in cfPWV varied by time segment: 0.9% (-0.6% to 2.3%) for segment 1 FMP, 7.5% (4.1% to 11.1%) for segment 2 and -1.0% (-2.8% to 0.8%) for segment 3. Annual percentage change in cfPWV for segment 1 was significantly greater than for segments 2 and 3; P< 0.05 for both comparisons. Adjusting for concurrent CVD risk factors explained part of the change estimate but did not eliminate the difference.
Only in segment 1 did race modify the rate of change in cfPWV, with black women showing an annual increase of 2.0% versus 0.6% for white women (P= 0.04 for racial difference). Only black women had a statistically significant increase in cfPWV within segment 1.
Conclusions
The authors noted that the significant increases in central arterial stiffness seen in the 1-year period around FMP were independent of aging, midlife CVD risk factors, estradiol and follicle stimulating hormone levels. “Our results,” the said, “are consistent with previous findings showing significant vascular structural changes and CVD risk factors worsening around the time of FMP. Collectively, our findings underscore the importance of frequent and timely monitoring of CVD risk factors and stressing more intensive lifestyle modifications in women transitioning through menopause.”
Advancing obstetric and gynecologic surgery through robotic innovation
April 30th 2024Explore how robotic surgery revolutionizes obstetric and gynecologic procedures, offering enhanced precision, reduced complications, and improved patient outcomes, while also examining challenges and future prospects in the field.
Read More
Severe maternal morbidity linked to mental health risks post-delivery
April 26th 2024A recent study revealed that severe maternal morbidity during pregnancy increases the likelihood of mental health hospitalizations or emergency department visits up to 13 years post-delivery, emphasizing the need for mental health screening.
Read More
Reducing multifetal pregnancy through publicly funded IVF programs
April 26th 2024Learn how a mandatory elective single-embryo transfer policy in publicly funded in vitro fertilization programs significantly decreases multifetal pregnancy rates, offering insights into mitigating risks in assisted reproduction.
Read More