Metabolic syndrome in peri - and postmenopausal women performing intellectual work

Metabolic Syndrome is a set of interrelated risk factors for the emergence and progression of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, such as central obesity (abdominal), elevated blood pressure and disorders of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Peri- and postmenopausal women are particularly at risk of developing MS, by aging and the loss of protective effect of estrogen on the body, additionally by intellectual work associated with a sedentary lifestyle and job stress. The aim of our study was to analyze the frequency of MS and its criteria in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women doing intellectual work, as well as selected factors on which metabolic syndrome depend.

The study group consist of 300 women aged 44-66 working intellectually. Research methods used: metabolic syndrome's criteria, Greene Climacteric Scale, body fat accumulation, medical interview. Statistical methods used: logistic regression analysis, analysis of variance, χ2 test of stochastic independence.

The MS was diagnosed in about ¼ of the women in perimenopausal and postmenopausal period working intelectually, in most of them abdominal obesity ( ¾ ), in more than a half hypertension, in every sixth hypertriglyceridemia, in every seventh hyperglycemia and in every tenth low HDL-C. Prevalence of MS and its criteria was correlated with BMI, body fat accumulation and parity. Prevalence of arterial hypertension was associated with the severity of menopausal symptoms and lack of physical activity.

Prevalence of MS and some of its criteria depended on BMI, body fat accumulation, parity, severity of menopausal symptoms and lack of physical activity, whereas did not depend on: age between 44-66, educational level, marital status or HRT taking.