[Frequency of metabolic syndrome in Mexican postmenopausal women and its relation with the hormonal therapy]

Metabolic syndrome is related with a significant increase in some chronic-degenerative diseases. In the same manner in the postmenopause exist several and metabolic changes.

To determine the frequency of metabolic syndrome in Mexican postmenopausal women that receive or not hormone therapy.

33 postmenopausal women divided in two groups one without hormone therapy and the other received conjugated equine estrogens plus medroxyprogesterone acetate 0.625/2.5 mg/day. Age was documented; weight, height, waist and hip perimeters as well as blood pressure were analyzed. Body mass index and waist-hip ratio were calculated. Glucose and lipid levels were measured. Statistical analysis was done with Student's test for independent samples for comparison among the groups.

Thirty-three patients were studied, 17 were in the group without hormone therapy and 16 in the group with hormone therapy with conjugated equine estrogens and medroxyprogesterone acetate 0.625/2.5 mg/day were studied. When the groups were compared, the waist perimeter was significantly greater in the group without hormone therapy (98.7 +/- 7.8 cm vs. 92.9 +/- 9.1 cm, respectively, p < 0.05). No significant differences were found between the groups in blood pressure, glucose, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides. Metabolic syndrome diagnostic criteria were completed in 12 patients of group 1 (70.6%) and 8 in group 2 (50%), without statistically significant difference between them.

Hormone therapy group was associated to a lower abdominal perimeter and a lower waist-hip ratio. This let's suppose that hormone therapy has a beneficial effect on the prevention of metabolic syndrome.