Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2013 Apr;99(5):1385-91.
doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2012.11.053. Epub 2013 Jan 8.

Self-reported menopausal symptoms, coronary artery calcification, and carotid intima-media thickness in recently menopausal women screened for the Kronos early estrogen prevention study (KEEPS)

Erin Foran Wolff  1 , Yunxiao He, Dennis M Black, Eliot A Brinton, Mathew J Budoff, Marcelle I Cedars, Howard N Hodis, Rogerio A Lobo, Joann E Manson, George R Merriam, Virginia M Miller, Fredrick Naftolin, Lubna Pal, Nanette Santoro, Heping Zhang, S Mitchell Harman, Hugh S Taylor
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Self-reported menopausal symptoms, coronary artery calcification, and carotid intima-media thickness in recently menopausal women screened for the Kronos early estrogen prevention study (KEEPS)

Erin Foran Wolff et al. Fertil Steril. 2013 Apr.

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether self-reported menopausal symptoms are associated with measures of subclinical atherosclerosis.

Design: Cross-sectional analysis.

Setting: Multicenter, randomized controlled trial.

Patient(s): Recently menopausal women (n = 868) screened for the Kronos Early Estrogen Prevention Study (KEEPS).

Intervention(s): None.

Main outcome measure(s): Baseline menopausal symptoms (hot flashes, dyspareunia, vaginal dryness, night sweats, palpitations, mood swings, depression, insomnia, irritability), serum E2 levels, and measures of atherosclerosis were assessed. Atherosclerosis was quantified using coronary artery calcium (CAC) Agatston scores (n = 771) and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT). Logistic regression model of menopausal symptoms and E2 was used to predict CAC. Linear regression model of menopausal symptoms and E2 was used to predict CIMT. Correlation between length of time in menopause with menopausal symptoms, E2, CAC, and CIMT were assessed.

Result(s): In early menopausal women screened for KEEPS, neither E2 nor climacteric symptoms predicted the extent of subclinical atherosclerosis. Palpitations and depression approached significance as predictors of CAC. Other symptoms of insomnia, irritability, dyspareunia, hot flashes, mood swings, night sweats, and vaginal dryness were not associated with CAC. Women with significantly elevated CAC scores were excluded from further participation in KEEPS; in women meeting inclusion criteria, neither baseline menopausal symptoms nor E2 predicted CIMT. Years since menopause onset correlated with CIMT, dyspareunia, vaginal dryness, and E2.

Conclusion(s): Self-reported symptoms in recently menopausal women are not strong predictors of subclinical atherosclerosis. Continued follow-up of this population will be performed to determine whether baseline or persistent symptoms in the early menopause are associated with progression of cardiovascular disease.

Clinical trial registration number: NCT00154180.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Bush T, Cowan L, Barrett-Connor E, Criqui M, Karon J, Wallace R, et al. Estrogen use and all-cause mortality. Preliminary results from the Lipid Research Clinics Program Follow-Up Study. JAMA. 1983;249:903–6. - PubMed
    1. Bush T, Barrett-Connor E, Cowan L, Criqui M, Wallace R, Suchindran C, et al. Cardiovascular mortality and noncontraceptive use of estrogen in women: results from the Lipid Research Clinics Program Follow-up Study. Circulation. 1987;75:1102–9. - PubMed
    1. Ettinger B, Friedman G, Bush T, Quesenberry CJ. Reduced mortality associated with long-term postmenopausal estrogen therapy. Obstet Gynecol. 1996;87:6–12. - PubMed
    1. Grodstein F, Stampfer M, Colditz G, Willett W, Manson J, Joffe M, et al. Postmenopausal hormone therapy and mortality. N Engl J Med. 1997;336:1769–75. - PubMed
    1. Grodstein F, Manson J, Colditz G, Willett W, Speizer F, Stampfer M. A prospective, observational study of postmenopausal hormone therapy and primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Ann Intern Med. 2000;133:933–41. - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms

Associated data