Does metabolic syndrome or its components differ in naturally and surgically menopausal women?

This study aimed to compare metabolic syndrome and its components in naturally and surgically menopausal women.

This is a longitudinal study, with incident case and control groups, conducted on 446 women participants of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study, who experienced surgical or natural menopause over a 10-year period. In both groups, data collection was conducted using questionnaires including information on demographic, reproductive and metabolic characteristics at baseline and again after 3 years. Physical examinations and the biochemical profiles were also assessed.

During the follow-up, metabolic syndrome was observed in 28.7% and 32.5% of the naturally menopause and surgically menopausal women, respectively. Mean fasting blood sugar and 2-h plasma glucose were significantly higher in the surgically menopause group, compared to the naturally menopause one, whereas mean systolic blood pressure was significantly higher in naturally menopausal women as compared to surgically menopause ones, after further adjustment for premenopausal status.

Although no difference in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in naturally menopausal women and in surgically menopausal women was found, the components of metabolic syndrome were more prevalent among those with surgical menopause.