B032: Relationship between premenopausal cardiovascular risk & brachial artery distensibility in postmenopausal women

• Published in: American journal of hypertension 2000-04, Vol.13 (S2), p.198A-198A
• Main Authors: Brinton, T.J., Sutton-Tyrrell, K., Colvin, A.B., Tsai, J.J., Chang, M.S., Mathews, K.A., Kuller, L.H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: arterial distensibility; Cardiovascular risk; menopause
• ISSN: 0895-7061; 1941-7225; 1879-1905
• DOI: 10.1016/S0895-7061(00)00693-2

Previous studies have demonstrated that premenopausal women are at reduced risk for cardiovascular (CV) disease, in contrast to postmenopausal women. However, limited data is available on the relationship between early carotid atherosclerosis and CV risk factors in premenopausal women, and peripheral artery distensibility (DIST) post menopause. We evaluated 187 postmenopausal women (mean age 59) for brachial artery DIST using pulse dynamic calibrated arterial pressure waveforms obtained by a cuff sphygmomanometer. The method has been previously documented. Risk factors such as blood pressure, fasting insulin, 2-hour glucose tolerance, serum lipids, and alcohol intake were obtained prior to menopause. Presence of early carotid atherosclerosis was determined using intimal-medial thickness (IMT) and plaque index obtained by ultrasound. Univariate analysis demonstrated that higher DIST was associated with lower premenopausal SBP (r=−0.28, p=0.0001), 2-hour glucose tolerance (r=−0.20, p=0.005), fasting insulin (r=−0.16, p=0.03), and triglycerides (r=−0.15, p=0.03). Alcohol consumption demonstrated an interesting trend (r=0.14, p=0.06). Carotid artery IMT (r=−0.20, p