Frequency of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Perimenopausal and Menopausal Women

Abstract

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases are the most common cause of morbidity and mortality among residents of both sexes in Serbia. The reason for this is the fact that cardiovascular risk factors such as sedentary life habits, less physical activity, improper diet, and the habit of smoking are the cause of obesity, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, and hypertension. The persistence of risk factors significantly increases the incidence of cardiovascular diseases.  

Aim: The aim of our research was to determine the frequency of cardiovascular risk factors in premenopausal and menopausal women.

 Materials and Methods: The study included 200 middle-aged women, 131 (65.5%) premenopausal under the age of 49, and 69 (34.5%) menopausal women (50–59 years), who came to a doctor for a preventive medical examination at the Health Center in Kosovska Mitrovica in the period from September to December 2024.

 Results: There was no significant difference in relation to life habits, physical activity, sedentary occupation, and smoking in premenopausal and menopausal women. Menopausal women more often had obesity and hyperglycemia (p = 0.002). Hypertension was significantly more common in menopausal women (84.1%). Family burden did not differ significantly. Biochemical variables, such as liver enzymes and glomerular filtration rate, were similar in these two groups of women. TSH values differed significantly, and hypothyroidism was diagnosed significantly more often in premenopausal women (p = 0.027).

 Conclusion: The lifestyle habits of women before menopause and women in menopause do not differ significantly, but even so, menopause leads to obesity and an increase in cholesterol and glucose levels, which accelerate the onset of diabetes and hypertension. The reason for this is hormonal changes, the effect of which can be mitigated by good lifestyle habits.