[Metabolic changes in climacteric women in terms of body mass index]

The objective was to identify climateric woman with cardiovasculary risk by the relation between size and weight, known as corporal mass index. Seven hundred and ninety seven postmenopausal patients, were studied; they attended the CECLIMEN, with one or two years of spontaneous menopause, and they were not receiving, nor had received replacement hormonal therapy (RHT). In all of them clinical history was taken, and blood pressure, weight, size and corporal mass index (CMI) (weight/(size)2), were evaluated; considering normal weight when CMI was < or = 27, and obesity when this index was greater than 27. Fastening and postprandial glucose at two hours, was determined, as well as total cholesterol, HDL-C, cholesterol of low density lipoproteins (LDL-C), triglicéridos (Tg), and aterogenic index was calculated by CtHDL-C. Besides, estradiol (E2) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) were measured in serum by radioimmunoanalysis RIA. Results were considered in the two groups, according to CMI: Group I with CMI < or = 27 (n = 566); and group II, with CMI > 27 (n = 231). Blood pressure, systolic and diastolic, triglicerides and aterogenic index were significantly greater in group II. There were higher levels of glucose in group II (tendency). CMI > 27 is useful to differentiate the postmenopausal women with a higher cardiovasculary risk.