[Lipid profile comparison between pre- and post-menopausal women]

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Cardiovascular Health
• Women's Health

Background:

• Menopause is associated with significant physiological changes, including alterations in lipid metabolism.
• Understanding the relationship between menopausal status and dyslipidemia is crucial for cardiovascular risk assessment in women.
• Previous studies suggest a link between menopause and adverse lipid profiles, but further investigation in diverse cohorts is warranted.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare serum lipid profiles between premenopausal and postmenopausal women.
• To evaluate the independent association between menopause and dyslipidemia.
• To identify other contributing factors to dyslipidemia in women aged 40-59.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 4,131 women aged 40-59, divided into premenopausal and postmenopausal groups.
• Comparison of various anthropometric and serum lipid parameters, including total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), LDL-C, and HDL-C.
• Multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to assess the association between menopause and dyslipidemia, adjusting for confounding factors.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of dyslipidemia was significantly higher in postmenopausal women (69.7%) compared to premenopausal women (24.3%).
• Postmenopausal women exhibited significantly higher levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, non-HDL-C, and TC/HDL-C ratio, and lower HDL-C levels.
• Menopause was independently associated with dyslipidemia (OR=6.65), alongside factors like BMI, waist-hip ratio, and fatty liver degree.

Conclusions:

• Postmenopausal status is a significant risk factor for dyslipidemia.
• Women undergoing menopause experience unfavorable changes in lipid profiles, increasing cardiovascular risk.
• Management strategies for dyslipidemia in postmenopausal women should consider menopausal status and associated metabolic changes.