A study published Aug. 3, 2016 in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that risk factors for heart disease, stroke and diabetes may increase more rapidly prior to menopause rather than afterward, as previously thought. It was reported Aug. 3, 2016 by Reuters.
Visit our website to read the full Q&A now!
The goal was to determine what happens during the menopause transition (known as perimenopause) — as far as how quickly and when some women might get metabolic syndrome — to determine when this important risk factor for heart and vascular disease might develop. A similar study has not been done before, in part because of a historical lack of women included in research studies and the difficulty and expense of looking at population health. Studies have been done showing an increase in visceral obesity (fat in the abdomen) and metabolic syndrome in women who are postmenopause compared with premenopausal women. Other studies have suggested differences in women going through the menopause transition based on their ethnicity or race.
The researchers identified an increase in metabolic syndrome severity during the premenopausal (before the change) and perimenopausal (during the change) time periods compared with the postmenopausal period (after the change).
For more news from Women's Health Research at Yale, sign up for our e-blasts, connect with us on Facebook and Twitter, or visit our website.
For questions, please contact Rick Harrison, Communications Officer, at 203-764-6610 or rick.harrison@yale.edu.