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New research indicates that women undergoing the menopause transition are at increased risk of adverse changes in their cardiovascular health, challenging the persistent myth that cardiovascular disease (CVD) is primarily a “man’s disease.” The study, which will be presented at the upcoming European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress 2024 in the UK, sheds light on the significant impact of menopause on heart health.
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death among women, accounting for 40% of all female deaths. Despite women typically developing CVD a decade later than men, their risk significantly escalates post-menopause. The study, led by Dr. Stephanie Moreno of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, focuses on the changes in lipoprotein particles that occur during the menopause transition, which could potentially increase the likelihood of developing CVD.
“There is an increase in ‘bad’ low-density type lipoprotein (LDL) particles and a decrease in ‘good’ high-density lipoprotein particles (HDL) that takes place during and after the menopause transition,” explained Dr. Moreno. “These changes suggest that menopause is associated with a transition to a higher-risk lipoprotein profile that could be more likely to cause cardiovascular disease, such as coronary artery disease.”
The research involved 1,246 participants and utilized nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology to measure changes in lipoproteins, including atherogenic LDL-P and small dense LDL, across pre-, peri-, and post-menopausal women. The results highlighted that all female groups experienced an increase in LDL-P, with the most significant rise observed between the peri- and post-menopausal stages.
Interestingly, the study also compared these changes to those observed in men, revealing that small dense LDL had a more pronounced percent change in peri-menopausal women, exceeding that of both pre- and post-menopausal women by approximately 15%. Compared to men, the peri-menopausal group showed a percent change in small dense LDL that was 213% higher.
“We found that menopause is associated with adverse changes in lipoprotein profiles, with the most pronounced changes found to be in increases in ‘bad’ LDL-particles and subfractions observed for peri-menopausal women,” noted Dr. Moreno.
These findings may help explain the rise in heart disease among post-menopausal women, emphasizing the need for earlier interventions to mitigate these risks. The study’s authors are calling for further research to explore potential preventive strategies that could be implemented during the menopause transition to protect cardiovascular health.
As the findings are set to be discussed at the ESC Congress, they mark a crucial step forward in understanding the link between menopause and cardiovascular disease, potentially guiding future clinical practices and public health initiatives aimed at improving heart health in women.
