MENOPAUSE AND CARDIOVASCULAR RISK

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.55842524120810

• Palavras-chave: Menopause, Coronary Risk, Framingham Test.

• Keywords: Menopause, Coronary Risk, Framigham Test.

• Abstract:

  Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women over 50 years of age. Before menopause, cardiovascular risk (CVR) is much lower than that of men; after menopause, the risk increases, apparently related to estrogen deficiency, which is associated with a higher prevalence of multiple CVR factors (diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome, unfavorable changes in weight and body fat distribution, insulin sensitivity and sympathetic tone, among others). In fact, the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) recognized postmenopause as a CVR factor, assigning it the same weight as being male. The question that remains to this day is whether Menopausal Hormonal Therapy (MHT) is able to reverse the increased cardiovascular risk. Objective: to determine whether there is a difference in coronary risk in women with and without menopause. Methodology: Observational, cross-sectional, analytical and prospective study of 108 women during the year 2022, aged 35 to 74 years with and without menopause using a Framigham test to assess the relationship to coronary risk. Results: It was observed that postmenopausal women with obesity have a higher coronary risk score compared to their premenopausal counterparts. Conclusions: The difference in scores between postmenopausal and premenopausal women indicates that menopause may be a significant factor in increasing the risk of coronary heart disease.