Vascular Changes During the Menopausal Transition

Adverse carotid artery remodeling accelerates during late perimenopause.

Several studies have suggested that vascular changes associated with excess risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) occur during the menopausal transition. Now, investigators assessed 249 women from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (baseline age, 42–57; 49% premenopausal, 46% early perimenopausal) to determine whether rates of change in carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and adventitial diameter (AD) vary by menopausal stage. Women underwent ≤5 carotid ultrasound measurements during a median 3.7 years' follow-up.

The overall rate of increase in IMT was 0.007 mm/year. Irrespective of age and race, the rate of increase was significantly greater during late perimenopause (0.017 mm/year) than either early perimenopause (0.005 mm/yea…

Reviewing Author

JoAnne M. Foody, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardAegerion; Amarin; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Janssen; Merck; Pfizer; Sanofi-Aventis; Boehringer Ingelheim

Leadership positions in professional societiesAmerican College of Cardiology, Cardiosmart (Co-chair)

JoAnne M. Foody, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardAegerion; Amarin; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Janssen; Merck; Pfizer; Sanofi-Aventis; Boehringer Ingelheim

Leadership positions in professional societiesAmerican College of Cardiology, Cardiosmart (Co-chair)

Vascular Changes During the Menopausal Transition

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Reviewing Author