Cardiometabolic Risk Factors and Endogenous Sex Hormones in Postmenopausal Women: A Cross-Sectional Study

It is uncertain which cardiovascular risk factors are associated with sex hormone levels in postmenopausal women.

This work aimed to investigate the association between cardiometabolic risk factors and sex hormones in a cross-sectional, observational population study.

In this Swedish population study, participants were physically examined from 2002 to 2004, and endogenous sex hormones were analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Women aged 55 years or older with estradiol levels below 20 pg/mL and not using any hormonal therapy were eligible for inclusion in the study (N = 146). Variable selection and bootstrap stability analyses were performed and linear regression models presented, with each of the 8 hormones as outcome variables.

Body mass index (BMI) was positively associated with estradiol (β = 0.054, P < .001), but negatively associated with 17-α-hydroxyprogesterone (β = -0.023, P = .028). Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) was negatively associated with dihydrotestosterone (β = -2.195, P = .002) and testosterone (β = -1.541, P = .004). The homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance was positively associated with androstenedione (β = 0.071, P = .032), estradiol (β = 0.091, P = .009), estrone (β = 0.075, P = 0.009), and 17-α-hydroxyprogesterone (β = 0.157, P = .001). Age was positively associated with testosterone (β = 0.017, P = .042). C-reactive protein showed an inverse association with progesterone (β = -0.028, P = .037). Lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was associated with higher estradiol levels (β = -0.093, P = .049), whereas lower triglycerides were associated with higher concentrations of dihydrotestosterone (β = -0.208, P = .016).

In postmenopausal women, WHR was strongly inversely associated with androgens, while BMI was positively associated with estrogens.