Vascular dysfunction across the stages of the menopausal transition is associated with menopausal symptoms and quality of life

The association of vasomotor symptoms with fracture risk and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Vasomotor symptoms (VMS) adversely affect postmenopausal quality of life. However, their association with bone health has not been elucidated. This study aimed to systematically review and meta-analyze the evidence regarding the association of VMS with fracture risk and bone mineral density (BMD) in peri- and postmenopausal women.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane databases until 31 August 2023. Fracture, low BMD (osteoporosis/osteopenia) and mean change in lumbar spine (LS) and femoral neck (FN) BMD were assessed. The results are presented as odds ratio (OR) and mean difference (MD), respectively, with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI). The I2 index quantified heterogeneity.

RESULTS

Twenty studies were included in the qualitative and 12 in the quantitative analysis (n=49,659). No difference in fractures between women with and without VMS was found (n=5, OR 1.04, 95% CI 0.93-1.16, I2 16%). However, VMS were associated with low BMD (n=5, OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.42-1.67, I2 0%). This difference was evident for LS (MD -0.019 g/cm2, 95% CI -0.03 to -0.008, I2 85.2%), but not for FN BMD (MD -0.010 g/cm2, 95% CI -0.021 to 0.001, I2 78.2%). These results were independent of VMS severity, age and study design. When the analysis was confined to studies that excluded menopausal hormone therapy use, the association with BMD remained significant.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of VMS is associated with low BMD in postmenopausal women, although it does not seem to increase fracture risk.

Gender differences in vascular aging and in coronary artery disease pathophysiology

Women have a clinical advantage over men in relation to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) (morbidity and mortality). This advantage disappears once women become older, and in their seventh decade, the risk to develop CVD equals men at that age. There have been several theories about this gender difference that were related to hormones, and the different morphology and physiology that characterize the cardiovascular system in women. In this review, the different mechanisms will be reviewed and discussed.

Postmenopausal women's cognitive function and performance of virtual reality tasks

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess whether prior knowledge of computer use determines performance of virtual reality tasks by postmenopausal women and whether menopausal symptoms, sociodemographic factors, lifestyle and cognition modify or interfere with their performance.

METHOD

This cross-sectional study included 152 postmenopausal women divided into two groups: computer users and non-users. Age, ethnicity, time of menopause, menopausal symptoms, female health status, level of physical activity and cognitive function were considered. The participants played a virtual reality game and were assessed for hits, errors, omissions and game time. The Mann-Whitney, chi-square and Fisher exact tests and multivariate linear regression analysis were used.

RESULTS

Postmenopausal computer users play virtual reality games (p = 0.005) better than postmenopausal non-users of computers. Vasomotor symptoms were high in women who used computers compared to those who did not (p = 0.006). Multivariate linear regression analysis found that the best-fitting predictors for the number of hits - that is, age (p = 0.039), Mini-Mental State Examination score (p = 0.006) and the headache symptom (p = 0.021) - influence the performance of virtual reality tasks.

CONCLUSION

Computer users performed virtual reality tasks better than non-users. Headache and age but not vasomotor symptoms negatively affected the postmenopausal women's performance.

Toward Blood-Based Precision Medicine: Identifying Age-Sex-Specific Vascular Biomarker Quantities on Circulating Vascular Cells

Introduction

Abnormal angiogenesis is central to vascular disease and cancer, and noninvasive biomarkers of vascular origin are needed to evaluate patients and therapies. Vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFRs) are often dysregulated in these diseases, making them promising biomarkers, but the need for an invasive biopsy has limited biomarker research on VEGFRs. Here, we pioneer a blood biopsy approach to quantify VEGFR plasma membrane localization on two circulating vascular proxies: circulating endothelial cells (cECs) and circulating progenitor cells (cPCs).

Methods

Using quantitative flow cytometry, we examined VEGFR expression on cECs and cPCs in four age-sex groups: peri/premenopausal females (aged < 50 years), menopausal/postmenopausal females (≥ 50 years), and younger and older males with the same age cut-off (50 years).

Results

cECs in peri/premenopausal females consisted of two VEGFR populations: VEGFR-low (~ 55% of population: population medians ~ 3000 VEGFR1 and 3000 VEGFR2/cell) and VEGFR-high (~ 45%: 138,000 VEGFR1 and 39,000-236,000 VEGFR2/cell), while the menopausal/postmenopausal group only possessed the VEGFR-low cEC population; and 27% of cECs in males exhibited high plasma membrane VEGFR expression (206,000 VEGFR1 and 155,000 VEGFR2/cell). The absence of VEGFR-high cEC subpopulations in menopausal/postmenopausal females suggests that their high-VEGFR cECs are associated with menstruation and could be noninvasive proxies for studying the intersection of age-sex in angiogenesis. VEGFR1 plasma membrane localization in cPCs was detected only in menopausal/postmenopausal females, suggesting a menopause-specific regenerative mechanism.

Conclusions

Overall, our quantitative, noninvasive approach targeting cECs and cPCs has provided the first insights into how sex and age influence VEGFR plasma membrane localization in vascular cells.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12195-023-00771-1.

Vasomotor symptoms and their links to cardiovascular disease risk

Hot flashes and night sweats, also known as vasomotor symptoms (VMS), are common and bothersome symptoms of the menopause transition. In addition to negatively impacting quality of life, VMS have been associated with multiple indicators of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, including an unfavorable CVD risk factor profile, increased subclinical CVD, and elevated risk of CVD events. Several facets of VMS have been associated with CVD risk, including the frequency, timing, duration, and severity of VMS. VMS may signify poor or degrading cardiovascular health among midlife women and indicate women who warrant focused CVD prevention efforts.

Association of Migraine and Vasomotor Symptoms

OBJECTIVE

To further examine a potential link between migraine and vasomotor symptoms as well as hypertension as a cardiovascular disease risk factor, potentially explaining the association in midlife women.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis from the Data Registry on Experiences of Aging, Menopause, and Sexuality using questionnaire data from women aged 45 to 60 years seen in women's clinics at a tertiary care center from May 15, 2015, through January 31, 2022. A history of migraine was self-reported; menopause symptoms were assessed with the Menopause Rating Scale. Associations between migraine and vasomotor symptoms were evaluated utilizing multivariable logistic regression models adjusting for multiple factors.

RESULTS

Of 5708 women included in the analysis, 1354 (23.7%) reported a migraine history. The total cohort had a mean age of 52.8 years, most (5184 [90.8%]) were White, and 3348 (58.7%) were postmenopausal. In adjusted analysis, women with migraine were significantly more likely to have severe/very severe hot flashes vs no hot flashes compared with women without migraine (odds ratio, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.08 to 1.66; P=.007). Migraine was associated with a diagnosis of hypertension in adjusted analysis (odds ratio, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.11 to 1.55; P=.002).

CONCLUSION

This large cross-sectional study confirms an association between migraine and vasomotor symptoms. Migraine also was associated with hypertension, potentially providing a link with cardiovascular disease risk. Given the high prevalence of migraine in women, this association may help identify those at risk for more severe menopause symptoms.

Beneficial Effects of Flaxseed and/or Mulberry Extracts Supplementation in Ovariectomized Wistar Rats

Low endogenous estrogen action causes several injuries. Medicinal plants, such as flaxseed and mulberry, contain substances that have been shown to be effective to the organism. The aim was to verify the effects of flaxseed and/or mulberry extracts on ovariectomized Wistar rats. The animals received supplements of extracts and estrogen or saline by gavage for 60 days and were weighed weekly. Vaginal wash, blood, pituitary, uterus, liver, and kidneys were collected. Phenolic compounds and the antioxidant activity of the extracts, lipid profile, uric acid, liver enzymes, and pituitary weight were measured. Histomorphometric for uterine wall and histopathological analyses for liver and kidney were performed. Flaxseed and mulberry extracts showed great antioxidant activity and large amounts of phenolic compounds. The treatment with extracts had less weight gain, increased pituitary weight, the predominance of vaginal epithelial cells, and reduced TC, LDL-c and lipase activity, similar to estrogen animals. Estrogen or flaxseed + mulberry animals reduced VLDL-c and TAG. HDL-c, uric acid, and liver enzymes did not differ. Estrogen or extracts demonstrated trophic action on the endometrial thickness and have not shown hepatotoxicity or nephrotoxicity. We suggested the beneficial effects of flaxseed and mulberry extract as an alternative to reduce and/or prevent the negative effects caused by low estrogenic action.

Menopause: a cardiometabolic transition

Menopause is often a turning point for women's health worldwide. Increasing knowledge from experimental data and clinical studies indicates that cardiometabolic changes can manifest at the menopausal transition, superimposing the effect of ageing onto the risk of cardiovascular disease. The menopausal transition is associated with an increase in fat mass (predominantly in the truncal region), an increase in insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia, and endothelial dysfunction. Exposure to endogenous oestrogen during the reproductive years provides women with protection against cardiovascular disease, which is lost around 10 years after the onset of menopause. In particular, women with vasomotor symptoms during menopause seem to have an unfavourable cardiometabolic profile. Early management of the traditional risk factors of cardiovascular disease (ie, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, dyslipidaemia, and smoking) is essential; however, it is important to recognise in the reproductive history the female-specific conditions (ie, gestational hypertension or diabetes, premature ovarian insufficiency, some gynaecological diseases such as functional hypothalamic amenorrhoea, and probably others) that could enhance the risk of cardiovascular disease during and after the menopausal transition. In this Review, the first of a Series of two papers, we provide an overview of the literature for understanding cardiometabolic changes and the management of women at midlife (40-65 years) who are at higher risk, focusing on the identification of factors that can predict the occurrence of cardiovascular disease. We also summarise evidence about preventive non-hormonal strategies in the context of cardiometabolic health.

Increased Risk of Cardio-Cerebrovascular Diseases in Migraine Patients: A Nationwide Population-Based, Longitudinal Follow-Up Study in South Korea

Background and Purpose

Migraine is reportedly associated with several cardio-cerebrovascular diseases (CCDs), but some of these diseases have not received sufficient attention. We thus attempted to determine the associations of migraine with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), ischemic heart disease (IHD), atrial fibrillation/flutter (AF), ischemic stroke (IS), and hemorrhagic stroke (HS).

Methods

The study population was recruited by applying International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes to the database of the Korean National Health Insurance Service from 2002 to 2018. Cumulative incidence curves were plotted to compare the incidence rates of CCDs between the migraine (ICD-10 code G43; n=130,050) and nonmigraine (n=130,050) groups determined using 1:1 propensity-score matching. Cox proportional-hazards regression models were used to obtain adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for CCDs in patients with any migraine, migraine with aura (n=99,751), and migraine without aura (n=19,562) compared with nonmigraine controls.

Results

For all CCDs, the cumulative incidence rates were higher in the migraine group than the nonmigraine group (p<0.001 in log-rank test). Any migraine, irrespective of the presence of aura, was associated with PAD (aHR 2.29, 95% CI 2.06–2.53), IHD (aHR 2.17, 95% CI 2.12–2.23), AF (aHR 1.84, 95% CI 1.70–1.99), IS (aHR 2.91, 95% CI 2.67–3.16), and HS (aHR 2.46, 95% CI 2.23–2.71). aHR was higher in female than in male migraineurs for all of the CCDs.

Conclusions

Associations of migraine with CCDs have been demonstrated, which are stronger in females than in males.

Oxidative Stress and Inflammation Are Associated With Age-Related Endothelial Dysfunction in Men With Low Testosterone

CONTEXT

Vascular aging, including endothelial dysfunction secondary to oxidative stress and inflammation, increases the risk for age-associated cardiovascular disease (CVD). Low testosterone in middle-aged/older men is associated with increased CVD risk.

OBJECTIVE

We hypothesized that low testosterone contributes to age-associated endothelial dysfunction, related in part to greater oxidative stress and inflammation.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 58 healthy, nonsmoking men categorized as young (N = 20; age 29 ± 4 years; testosterone 500 ± 58 ng/dL), middle-aged/older with higher testosterone (N = 20; age 60 ± 6 years; testosterone 512 ± 115 ng/dL), and middle-aged/older lower testosterone (N = 18; age 59 ± 8 years; testosterone 269 ± 48 ng/dL). Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMDBA) was measured during acute infusion of saline (control) and vitamin C (antioxidant). Markers of oxidative stress (total antioxidant status and oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol), inflammation (interleukin [IL]-6 and C-reactive protein [CRP]), and androgen deficiency symptoms were also examined.

RESULTS

During saline, FMDBA was reduced in middle-aged/older compared with young, regardless of testosterone status (P < 0.001). FMDBA was reduced in middle-aged/older lower testosterone (3.7% ± 2.0%) compared with middle-aged/older higher testosterone (5.7% ± 2.2%; P = 0.021), independent of symptoms. Vitamin C increased FMDBA (to 5.3% ± 1.6%; P = 0.022) in middle-aged/older lower testosterone but had no effect in young (P = 0.992) or middle-aged/older higher testosterone (P = 0.250). FMDBA correlated with serum testosterone (r = 0.45; P < 0.001), IL-6 (r = -0.41; P = 0.002), and CRP (r = -0.28; P = 0.041).

CONCLUSION

Healthy middle-aged/older men with low testosterone appear to have greater age-associated endothelial dysfunction, related in part to greater oxidative stress and inflammation. These data suggest that low testosterone concentrations may contribute to accelerated vascular aging in men.

Association of menopausal status and symptoms with depressive symptoms in middle-aged Chinese women

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to examine the association of menopausal status and symptoms with depressive symptoms.

METHODS

A community-based cross-sectional survey recruited 6745 women aged 40-55 years in the eastern, central and western regions of China in 2018. Menopausal status was categorized into reproductive stage, perimenopause or postmenopause according to the Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop classification. Menopausal symptoms were determined by the modified Kupperman Menopausal Index and classified as none (total score < 15), mild (15 ≤ total score ≤ 24) or moderate to severe (total score ≥ 25). Logistic regression models were used to examine the associations of menopausal status and symptoms with depressive symptoms assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9.

RESULTS

The prevalence of depressive symptoms among women in the reproductive stage, perimenopause and postmenopause was 15.4%, 23.9% and 22.8%, respectively. After multivariable adjustment, perimenopause (odds ratio [OR] = 1.21, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-1.47) and postmenopause (OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.04-1.58) were associated with higher risk for depressive symptoms than during the reproductive stage. Mild (OR = 5.55, 95% CI: 4.68-6.59) and moderate-to-severe (OR = 14.77, 95% CI: 10.94-19.94) menopausal symptoms were associated with increased likelihood of depressive symptoms compared to the group reporting no menopausal symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Menopausal status and symptoms were independently associated with the risk of depressive symptoms in middle-aged Chinese women.

Menopausal symptoms and risk of heart failure: a retrospective analysis from Taiwan National Health Insurance Database

Aims

Women with menopausal symptoms show evidence of accelerated epigenetic ageing, vascular aging and low‐grade systemic inflammation status. However, data are limited regarding menopausal symptoms and risk of heart failure (HF). We aimed to explore the impact of menopausal symptoms on risk of HF.

Methods

We included 14 340 symptomatic menopausal women without a history of coronary heart disease (CHD) or HF from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database as the experimental cohort. We included 14 340 asymptomatic women matched for age and comorbidities as controls. We surveyed possible comorbidity‐attributable risks of HF and assessed whether menopausal symptoms play a role in risk of HF. Additional analyses were conducted to ascertain the association of CHD and HF in different risk factor burdens categories in both cohorts and CHD was applied as a sensitivity analysis.

Results

The incidence of HF was not significantly lower in the experimental than in the control cohort (4.87 vs. 5.06 per 1000 person‐years, P = 0.336). Participants with a higher comorbidity burden had a proportionally increased risk of HF and CHD in both cohorts. The burden of risk factors had a greater impact on risk of HF in the control than in the experimental cohort (≥five risk factors, adjusted hazard ratio 25.69 vs. 14.75). Participants undergoing hormone therapy had no significant effect on the risk of HF, regardless of the presence or absence of menopausal symptoms. Subgroup analysis revealed that compared with the control cohort, the risk of HF in the experimental cohort did not increase significantly in all subgroups.

Conclusions

Menopausal symptoms were associated with CHD risk but not with risk of HF. Traditional risk factors rather than menopausal symptoms play important roles in the HF risk among middle‐aged women.

The Etiology and Pathophysiology Genesis of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Prostate Cancer: A New Perspective

Background: The etiology of benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer are unknown, with ageing being the greatness risk factor. Methods: This new perspective evaluates the available interdisciplinary evidence regarding prostate ageing in terms of the cell biology of regulation and homeostasis, which could explain the timeline of evolutionary cancer biology as degenerative, inflammatory and neoplasm progressions in these multifactorial and heterogeneous prostatic diseases. Results: This prostate ageing degeneration hypothesis encompasses the testosterone-vascular-inflamm-ageing triad, along with the cell biology regulation of amyloidosis and autophagy within an evolutionary tumorigenesis microenvironment. Conclusions: An understanding of these biological processes of prostate ageing can provide potential strategies for early prevention and could contribute to maintaining quality of life for the ageing individual along with substantial medical cost savings.

4D Doppler Ultrasound in High Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer Vascularity Evaluation-Preliminary Study

The aim of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of 4D Power Doppler tissue evaluation to discriminate between normal ovaries and ovarian cancer tumors. This was a prospective observational study. Twenty-three cases of surgically confirmed ovarian High Grade Serous Carcinoma (HGSC) were analyzed. The control group consisted of 23 healthy patients, each matching their study-group counterpart age wise (±3 years) and according to their menopausal status. Transvaginal Doppler 4D ultrasound scans were done on every patient and analyzed with 3D/4D software. Two 4D indices-volumetric Systolic/Diastolic Index (vS/D) and volumetric Pulsatility Index (vPI)-were calculated. To keep results standardized and due to technical limitations, virtual 1cc spherical tissue samples taken from the part with highest vascularization as detected by bi-directional Power Doppler were analyzed for both groups of ovaries. Values of volumetric S/D indices and volumetric PI indices were statistically lower in ovarian malignant tumors compared to normal ovaries: 1.096 vs. 1.794 and 0.092 vs. 0.558, respectively (p < 0.001). The 4D bi-directional Power Doppler vascular indices were statistically different between malignant tumors and normal ovaries. These findings could support the rationale for future studies for assessing this technology to discriminate between malignant and benign tumors.

Therapeutic potential of phosphodiesterase inhibitors in the treatment of osteoporosis: Scopes for therapeutic repurposing and discovery of new oral osteoanabolic drugs

Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are ubiquitously expressed enzymes that hydrolyze phosphodiester bond in the second messenger molecules including cAMP and cGMP. A wide range of drugs blocks one or more PDEs thereby preventing the inactivation of cAMP/cGMP. PDEs are differentially expressed in bone cells including osteoblasts, osteoclasts and chondrocytes. Intracellular increases in cAMP/cGMP levels in osteoblasts result in osteogenic response. Acting via the type 1 PTH receptor, teriparatide and abaloparatide increase intracellular cAMP and induce osteoanabolic effect, and many PDE inhibitors mimic this effect in preclinical studies. Since all osteoanabolic drugs are injectable and that oral drugs are considered to improve the treatment adherence and persistence, osteogenic PDE inhibitors could be a promising alternative to the currently available osteogenic therapies and directly assessed clinically in drug repurposing mode. Similar to teriparatide/abaloparatide, PDE inhibitors while stimulating osteoblast function also promote osteoclast function through stimulation of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand production from osteoblasts. In this review, we critically discussed the effects of PDE inhibitors in bone cells from cellular signalling to a variety of preclinical models that evaluated the bone formation mechanisms. We identified pentoxifylline (a non-selective PDE inhibitor) and rolipram (a PDE4 selective inhibitor) being the most studied inhibitors with osteogenic effect in preclinical models of bone loss at ≤ human equivalent doses, which suggest their potential for post-menopausal osteoporosis treatment through therapeutic repurposing. Subsequently, we treated pentoxifylline and rolipram as prototypical osteogenic PDEs to predict new chemotypes via the computer-aided design strategies for new drugs, based on the structural biology of PDEs.

The role of cardiorespiratory fitness on quality of life in midlife women

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to characterize the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and quality of life in a sample of healthy midlife women aged 40 to 65 years.

METHODS

Cardiorespiratory fitness was measured with a VO2max test. Quality of life was assessed with the menopause-specific Utian Quality of Life scale (UQOL). The UQOL measures overall quality of life, which comprises health, emotional, occupational, and sexual domains. Simple and multiple linear regression models were built to analyze relationships between cardiorespiratory fitness and overall quality of life as well as the separate UQOL domains.

RESULTS

Forty-nine women with an average age of 52.5 years were included in the analysis. In simple linear models, cardiorespiratory fitness was related to overall (R2 = 0.34, P < 0.001), health (R2 = 0.55, P < 0.001), emotional (R2 = 0.08, P = 0.05), and occupational (R2 = 0.09, P = 0.03) quality of life. In multiple regression models, cardiorespiratory fitness was associated with overall (P < 0.01) and health (P < 0.001) quality of life, after controlling for physical activity, age, body mass index, and time sedentary.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with better quality of life during midlife, particularly in the health domain. Increasing cardiorespiratory fitness may be a useful means to promote quality of life in this population.

The severity of vasomotor symptoms and number of menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women and select clinical health outcomes in the Women's Health Initiative Calcium and Vitamin D randomized clinical trial

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluated whether vasomotor symptom (VMS) severity and number of moderate/severe menopausal symptoms (nMS) were associated with health outcomes, and whether calcium and vitamin D (CaD) modified the risks.

METHODS

The Women's Health Initiative CaD study was a double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, which tested 400 IU of 25-hydroxyvitamin-D and 1,000 mg of calcium per day in women aged 50 to 79 years. This study included 20,050 women (median follow-up of 7 y). The outcomes included hip fracture, colorectal cancer, invasive breast cancer, all-cause mortality, coronary heart disease, stroke, cardiovascular death, and total cardiovascular disease (CVD). MS included: hot flashes, night sweats, dizziness, heart racing, tremors, feeling restless, feeling tired, difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, mood swings, vaginal dryness, breast tenderness, migraine, and waking up several times at night. Associations between VMS severity and nMS with outcomes were tested.

RESULTS

No association between VMS severity and any outcome were found. In contrast, nMS was associated with higher stroke (hazard ratio [HR] 1.40 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-1.89 for ≥ 2 MS vs none; HR 1.20 95% CI 0.89-1.63 for 1 MS vs none, P trend = 0.03) and total CVD (HR 1.35, 95% CI, 1.18-1.54 for ≥ 2 MS vs none; HR 0.99, 95% CI, 0.87-1.14 for 1 MS vs none P trend < 0.001). CaD did not modify any association.

CONCLUSION

Severity of VMS was not associated with any outcome. Having ≥2 moderate or severe MS was associated with an increased risk for CVD. The number of moderate/severe MS may be a marker for higher CVD risk. : Video Summary:http://links.lww.com/MENO/A669.

[Validity and Reliability of the Korean Version of the Menopause-Specific Quality of Life]

PURPOSE

This study aimed to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Korean version of Menopause-Specific Quality of Life (MENQOL).

METHODS

The MENQOL was translated into Korean according to algorithm of linguistic validation process. A total of 308 menopausal women were recruited and assessed using the Korean version of MENQOL (MENQOL-K), the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF), and Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-K). In estimating reliability, internal consistency reliability coefficients were calculated. Validity was evaluated through criterion validity and construct validity with confirmatory factor analyses using SPSS 23.0 and AMOS 25.0 software.

RESULTS

In item analyses, the "increased facial hair" symptom was excluded because of the low contribution of MENQOL-K. The confirmatory factor analysis supported good fit and reliable scores for MENQOL-K model, and the four-factor structure was validated (χ²=553.28, p<.001, NC=1.84, RMSEA=.05, AGIF=.85, AIC=765.28). The MENQOL-K consists of 28 items in 4 domains, including vasomotor (3 items), psychosocial (7 items), physical (15 items), and sexual subscales (3 items). There was an acceptable criterion validity with moderately significant correlation between MENQOL-K and WHOQOL-BREF. The Cronbach's α for the 4 subsacles ranged from .80 to .93.

CONCLUSION

The MENQOL-K is a valid and reliable scale to measure condition-specific quality of life for perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. It can be used to assess the impact of menopausal symptoms on the quality of life of Korean women in clinical trials.

Peripheral vasodilation is reduced during exercise in perimenopausal women with elevated cardiovascular risk

OBJECTIVE

The menopausal transition has a negative effect on peripheral dilation in response to various stimuli including shear stress and exercise. Whether the presence of elevated traditional cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in women going through menopause exacerbates the adverse effect on peripheral vasodilation is unclear.

METHODS

Forty-four perimenopausal women with relatively low CVD risk were divided into tertiles based on atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD) 10-year risk scores (lowest: 0.1%-0.5%, middle: 0.6%-0.9%, higher: >1%). Comparisons were made across tertile groups for the femoral artery vascular conductance (FVC) response to single-leg knee extension exercise (0, 5, 10, 15 W) as measured using Doppler ultrasound.

RESULTS

At higher exercise intensities, FVC was lower in women in the tertile group with the highest ASCVD 10-year risk scores (10 W: 6 ± 2 mL/min/mm Hg, 15 W: 8 ± 3 mL/min/mm Hg) compared to women in the lowest tertile group (10 W: 9 ± 3 mL/min/mm Hg, P = 0.01; 15 W: 12 ± 3 mL/min/mm Hg, P < 0.01) and middle tertile group (10 W: 10 ± 4 mL/min/mm Hg, P < 0.01; 15 W: 12 ± 5 mL/min/mm Hg, P < 0.01). The overall increase in FVC during exercise from 0 to 15 W remained lower (P ≤ 0.01) in women with the highest ASCVD risk scores compared to the other two tertile groups even after adjustment for chronological age, arterial stiffness, and fat-free mass adjusted aerobic fitness level.

CONCLUSION

Our results show that the presence of mild differences in ASCVD risk scores may be associated with a blunted active limb blood flow during leg exercise in mid-life women transitioning through menopause.

Estrogen-related mechanisms in sex differences of hypertension and target organ damage

Hypertension (HTN) is a primary risk factor for cardiovascular (CV) events, target organ damage (TOD), premature death and disability worldwide. The pathophysiology of HTN is complex and influenced by many factors including biological sex. Studies show that the prevalence of HTN is higher among adults aged 60 and over, highlighting the increase of HTN after menopause in women. Estrogen (E2) plays an important role in the development of systemic HTN and TOD, exerting several modulatory effects. The influence of E2 leads to alterations in mechanisms regulating the sympathetic nervous system, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, body mass, oxidative stress, endothelial function and salt sensitivity; all associated with a crucial inflammatory state and influenced by genetic factors, ultimately resulting in cardiac, vascular and renal damage in HTN. In the present article, we discuss the role of E2 in mechanisms accounting for the development of HTN and TOD in a sex-specific manner. The identification of targets with therapeutic potential would contribute to the development of more efficient treatments according to individual needs.

Habitual Combined Exercise Protects against Age-Associated Decline in Vascular Function and Lipid Profiles in Elderly Postmenopausal Women

Postmenopausal status is associated with increased risks for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). This study investigated differences in vascular function, lipids, body composition, and physical fitness in elderly postmenopausal women active in combined resistance and aerobic exercise (CRAE) training for 1 year versus a sedentary cohort of similar-in-age counterparts. Elderly postmenopausal women performing habitual CRAE training for 1 year (age ~75 year; CRAE, n = 57) and elderly sedentary postmenopausal women (age ~78 year; SED, n = 44) were recruited. Arterial stiffness (brachial-to-ankle pulse-wave velocity, baPWV), blood pressure, blood lipids, anthropometrics, 2-min walking distance, and muscular strength were assessed for both groups. There were significant differences for baPWV, systolic blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein, and body fat percentage, which were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in CRAE vs. SED, and both 2 min walking distance and muscular strength were significantly greater (p < 0.05) in CRAE vs. SED. These results indicate that elderly postmenopausal women participating in habitual CRAE training may have better protection against risks for CVD and have better physical fitness compared to SED counterparts.

A heartfelt message, estrogen replacement therapy: use it or lose it

The issue of cardiovascular and cognitive health in women is complex. During the premenopausal phase of life, women have healthy blood pressure levels that are lower than those of age-matched men, and they have less cardiovascular disease. However, in the postmenopausal stage of life, blood pressure in women increases, and they are increasingly susceptible to cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairments, and dementia, exceeding the incidence in men. The major difference between pre- and postmenopausal women is the loss of estrogen. Thus, it seemed logical that postmenopausal estrogen replacement therapy, with or without progestin, generally referred to as menopausal hormone treatment (MHT), would prevent these adverse sequelae. However, despite initially promising results, a major randomized clinical trial refuted the benefits of MHT, leading to its falling from favor. However, reappraisal of this study in the framework of a "critical window," or "timing hypothesis," has changed our perspective on the benefit-to-risk ratio of MHT, and this review discusses the historical, current, and future approaches to MHT.