Menopause and cardiovascular risk

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Endocrinology
• Women's Health

Background:

• Menopause is a natural physiological phase, not a disease, marked by hormonal shifts.
• Post-menopause elevates cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in women due to estrogen deficiency.
• Estrogen withdrawal affects lipid metabolism, promotes obesity, hypertension, and glucose intolerance, increasing CVD risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the pathophysiology of cardiovascular risk in post-menopausal women.
• To highlight the impact of estrogen deficiency on cardiovascular health.
• To investigate the role of estrogen receptors in coronary artery disease (CAD) in women.

Main Methods:

• Review of physiological changes during menopause and their metabolic consequences.
• Analysis of the impact of estrogen deficiency on lipid profiles, hypertension, and vascular function.
• Discussion of the significance of alpha and beta estrogen receptors in female coronary arteries.

Main Results:

• Estrogen deficiency is a primary driver of increased CVD risk post-menopause.
• Key risk factors include altered lipid profiles, obesity, hypertension, and glucose intolerance.
• Estrogen withdrawal impairs vasodilator action, increases vascular resistance, and promotes smooth muscle cell proliferation.
• Hypertension is a frequent comorbidity, linked to increased body mass index and insulin resistance.

Conclusions:

• Age and estrogen deficiency are critical factors for cardiovascular risk in post-menopausal women.
• Estrogen's protective effects on lipids, metabolism, and vessel function are lost after menopause.
• The presence of estrogen receptors in coronary vessels suggests potential therapeutic targets for managing female CVD.